Chapter 2 an unexpected party
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the hobbit or the pictures (if any)
"Middle what?" I asked with a look of confusion.
"Middle earth, please do remember it as I do not want to have to keep telling you" the old man said. I gave a nod.
"I remember" I said.
"What's your name?" he asked, leaning slightly on his staff.
"Sian" I replied cautiously.
"And if you don't mind me asking, what you are?" he asked, quite curiously.
"I'm a vam…" I quickly stopped speaking; remembering the trouble my title had caused me. I looked behind me to see my wings weren't there. I can't trust him yet I thought
"SPEAK UP" the man yelled, obviously growing impatient.
"I'm human" he gave me a nod. "And why would an ordinary girl like you be carrying such dangerous weapons?" He asked, gesturing to my sword and bow.
"Why would you care?" I asked.
"It's just a bit odd" he answered.
"I'm not ordinary" I said. And with that he gave me a shrug and walked of.
I sighed and looked back to where the smaller guy was; only he wasn't there, but I swear I saw someone looking through the round window.
I suddenly felt my stomach rumble. Well I guess I'm in my human form so I don't need blood so I guess I should probably take a look around then find a place to get some food and somewhere to stay. I thought
The next afternoon
I still hadn't found anywhere to stay or anything to eat so I decided that I should just head back to that strange little house with the round green door and seek refuge there.
After a few minutes I found what I was looking for, a small pathway that went to the green door. I followed it and after a while I saw two figures heading in the same direction.
They were both wearing hoods but as I got closer I saw that they were dwarfs one older then the other, the older one had blond hair from, what I could see, while the younger one had brown.
I decided to catch up to them and ask where they were going. When I court up to them I realized they were a lot shorter than m, but bigger than those shoe-less people.
The blond one suddenly came to a halt and held up a hand in front of the other, signalling for him to stop. I heard them mumble something before they turned around.
"Uh hi" I said as I noticed they the blond one had braids.
They looked at my weapons before they gave each over a look and shrugged. "Fili and kili at your service" they said and bowed, both in perfect sync.
"Sian at yours" I said. "I was just wondering where you are going and if you know where I can get some food… and have you seen a bay horse around here? They turned to look at each over again and asked if they could have a minute. I nodded and stepped back a bit.
Fili & kili's P.O.V
"Should we take her with us?" asked Fili.
"I don't know but she seems to know how to fight, why else would she be carrying a sword and bow and she could prove useful on the quest" Answered kili.
"She could be an elf, and uncle will never let her come." said Fili.
"Let's just take her to the hobbits place, get her some food and see what uncle thinks" Said kili. Fili nodded
Sian's P.O.V
I had heard everything that they had just said, about the quest and there uncle and taking me to see one of those small people that are called hobbits. What had I gotten myself into? I thought
They turned to me, and as I thought, they asked me to follow them and told me they hadn't seen my horse.
I nodded and they started walking. After a few moments we came to the green door I had seen yesterday only it had a strange mark on it.
"This must be it" said kili, excitement in his voice
"Are you sure" said Fili.
"Well it has the mark Gandalf said he would make on the hobbits door" said kili pointing at the strange mark on the green door. I took note that the old man must be named Gandalf.
Suddenly both of them at the same time reached up and started to knock on the door. After about four knocks or so the door was flung open by an obviously annoyed hobbit that I had also seen earlier.
"Fili and kili at your service" they said one after another then bowing at the same time. "You must be Mr Boggins" I heard kili say.
"Sorry but I'm afraid you've come to the wrong house" said Bilbo as he tried to close the door but was stopped when kili yanked it open.
"Has it been cancelled?" asked kili, concern and disappointment clear in his features.
"No nothings been cancelled" said Bilbo, still quite confused.
"Well that's a relief" said kili as he pushed his way past Bilbo followed by Fili, which I now knew where brothers. So I was left standing at the door, feeling slightly sorry for the hobbit.
"Aren't you going to come in?" asked the hobbit.
"If it's ok with you I will". He nodded and stepped aside to let me in. I stepped through the small entry and had to duck my head as I did, and I only just didn't have to bob my head in the small hallways.
I turned my head to see the two dwarfs dropping there weapon's in the hobbits arms, only to walk off down the hallway to where the sound of talking was coming from. "Dwalin and Balin are here already I see", only kili decided to start whipping his boots on a small chest.
"Ah that's my mother's jewelry box, can you please not do that. Said Bilbo chucking the two dwarfs weapon's down into a different chest, I just followed the hobbit and placed my bow and arrows and sword down beside the chest. And continued walking down the hallway to find two other dwarfs as well as the other two I had already met.
I started to listen to them talk about their journeys and goblins and other exciting things. Then everything went silent when they realized I was standing there listening in.
"Who are you?" asked Dwalin. I stuttered for a second and was saved when kili answered the question.
"We found her on the way here and we said she could come with us for food". Dwalin gave me a look before nodding and then begin starting to talk to Balin. I looked over to where the hobbit was standing, clearly not enjoying all the talk of adventures. I was about to say something but there came loud series of knocks at the door.
Bilbo just stood there trying to figure out what to do when another loud series of knocks came. The poor hobbit had just about had it as he walked up to the door claiming that there was nobody home, and then yanked the door open harder than necessary when eight dwarfs tumbled in on top of each other when they got up, one by one they said "Dori, Nori, Ori, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur at your service" then they all bowed and hung their hoods up and went to join the throng. Behind them was the old man from earlier.
"Gandalf" said Bilbo.
Gandalf gave a laugh and walked off towards the throng of dwarves and me. When Gandalf saw me, he gave me and looks of confusion and sat down at the table, that was now covered in food from cheese to fish and all the dwarfs where gorging them self's on the food while Bilbo was running around trying to stop them from eating all of his food. I realized that he probably hadn't had anything to eat so I grabbed a seed cake and passed it to Bilbo. He gave me a surprised look.
"Thank you, and help yourself to the food." He said before walking off
I decided to sit down and eat something. When I sat down all the dwarfs stopped what they were doing and looked at me, there was a long silence. "My names Bofur, so what are you doing here lassie?" Bofur asked.
"It's a long story." I said blankly.
"Aye, another time then." He said before going back to eating when all of a sudden he and a few of the dwarfs started grinding the knives and forks together.
"Can you please stop that you will blunt them?" Said Bilbo, obviously quite concerned about his cutlery.
"Ya hear that lads, he said we will blunt the knives." Bofur said, Mischief in his eyes.
I gave a surprised look when Kili burst into song.
Blunt the knives and bend the forks! Cut the cloth and tread the fat! Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl; That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Smash the bottles and burn the corks!
Chip the glasses and crack the plates!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates -
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!
Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Splash the wine on every door!
Pound them up with a thumping pole;
And when you've finished, if any are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!
So, carefully! Carefully with the plates!
When the song had ended there where large piles off plates and cups all stacked up on top of one another, then there was a loud cheer that was interrupted by a three loud knocks on the door that made everyone go silent.
"He's here" said Gandalf like the bloody king had come to crash the party which made a shiver run down my spine. I watched as Bilbo walked to the door followed by the dwarfs, Gandalf and me. When the door was open there stood a particularly important looking dwarf.
"Gandalf, I thought you said this place would be easy to find, I lost my way… twice, I wouldn't have found it all had it not been for that mark on the door" the dwarf said as he unbuckled his hood and passed it to Kili, giving him a smile. He must be Fili and Kills Uncle. I thought as I noticed the resemblance.
This dwarf was still yet to find me as I was hidden behind Fili and Kili.
"Mark! There is no mark on that door, it was painted a week ago" said the hobbit quiet annoyed.
"Yes there is" I muttered.
"There is a mark; I put it there myself" said Gandalf chuckling to himself as he gestured to Bilbo. "Bilbo Baggins allow me to introduce You to the leader and heir to the throne of Erebor, Thorin Oakensheild".
Oh, that explains a bit I thought.
All of the dwarfs looked at Thorin and bowed.
"So this is the hobbit, tell me Master Baggins have you done much fighting?" said Thorin almost amused.
"Pardon me?" asked Bilbo.
"Axe or sword what is your weapon of choice?" He asked.
"Well I do have some skill in conkers if you must know, but I fail to see why that is…relevant" answered Bilbo.
"Thought as much, he looks more like a grocer then a burglar." Thorin said, giving the hobbit a smile. All the dwarfs burst out in laughter.
"Some leader" I said in a whisper, or add least I thought it was whisper. "Excuse me, but what did you say to me." The leader's voice said.
My whole body stopped cold when I realized that he had heard me.
"ANSWER ME!" He yelled.
"Oh nothing I just thought that it's a bit mean to be judging someone so early." I said, earning a surprised look from Thorin.
"And who are you, and why did you come here?" He asked, as he began circulating around me, like a wolf guards' its prey.
Kind of looks like one too. I thought.
"My name is Sian and to tell the truth I don't know how I got here" I said, giving a honest answer.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Well this is going to sound crazy but I come from a different world. So here I was riding my horse when I decided to take a break near a stream, then I found this strange book so I decided to open it, but I got pulled inside it to your world along with my horse or add least that's what I think happened" "and have you seen a large bay horse anywhere?"
"Well she's crazy" I heard one of the dwarves say.
"Um… no" I haven't and I meant how you ended up here in this house?" asked Thorin.
"We found her on the way here and she said she was hungry so we decided to take her with us and see if you would let her come on the quest?" answered Kili, a little too fast.
"And you thought I would say yes to letting a woman…to her, to come on this quest?" asked Thorin, not quite believing his younger nephews words. Fili and Kili gave a sort of half nod.
"Well then… Sian axe or sword?" said Thorin expecting me to not reply but only to stutter. But to his surprise I answered.
"I like Sword and bow." Thorin just stared at me blankly.
"And do you have a bow or sword, let alone no how to use them?" asked Thorin. I nodded towards where my bow and sword where lying. "And you can ride a horse, yes". I nodded again.
"Well then, Fili get your sword, You, Sian get your sword, you are to have a duel to prove you can handle such a weapon.
I gave Fili a look before we both headed to retrieve our swords.
Once we stood in front of one another I wasted no time making my first blow, only to have it parried with both of Fili's swords. I pulled back, minding my footing, as my sword was a longer I had to keep a longer distance which meant I only had a few seconds to go in for an attack before having to block an overhead strike. I took my chance and rammed my elbow into his right side. He fell back slightly allowing me to knock his right sword out of his hand with my swords hard hilt. Fili wasted no time making another blow only to have me parry yet again. I moved my sword away and made a go for tripping him up, in which I succeeded in doing so. I had won.
"Where did you learn to do that?" asked Fili pushing himself up of the ground with the help of Kili.
"I have been practicing with assorted swords and bows since I was young girl." I answered.
"But you look no older then Kili would be in human years." said Bofur.
"Believe me I'm older then I look" I said but my words weren't heard as everyone was now listening to Thorin. I went and put my sword away.
"Get them the papers." Said Thorin
"Wait what papers; I don't even know why you're all here or why I'm here and where you're all going or anything." Said Bilbo sounding quit distressed.
"Follow me…you too hobbit" Said Thorin. Everyone followed Thorin into what looked like a living room with a fire place.
Once we had all gathered round a small table, Thorin placed an old map of what I guessed was middle earth, I looked over it and noticed a few places that stood out like the shire, Rivendale, Mordor, Bree, Mirkwood, Mist mountains and Rohan. Then I noticed what looked like a small red dragon flying above what looked like a mountain of some sort that was called Erebor.
I looked at the map for a good long while until I heard a voice behind me. "Erebor" said Bilbo much to everyone's surprise. I was starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable with all the silence and staring. I almost jumped back in surprise when Thorin began talking about how Erebor was home and kingdom to the dwarfs and how they were great miners and one day they found a jewel witch was the heart of the mountain, the Arkenstone. But since they had so much gold it attracted a dragon named smaug the terrible claimed Erebor As his, and he has lived there ever since. I soon realized what this whole story was leading to.
"And you want to get is back?" I said. Thorin nodded.
"And kill the dragon" Bilbo stammered. I gulped at the thought of killing a dragon, considering I quite liked dragons, and as a matter of fact I was friends with one.
"Yes" said Thorin. Bilbo and I just stood there for a moment, until the dwarfs just went back to the dining table and started eating again.
"So what you think lassie, you in?" asked Bofur.
"I um, well you see, ah" I stammered.
"Oh please come" pleaded Ori. I sighed and thought about killing a dragon, even one as evil as smaug.
"What you waiting for give me those papers" I said and as a response there was a loud cheer from all the dwarfs, except Thorin, he just glared at them witch caused the room to go silent instantly.
Balin handed me a long piece of parchment, which looked like it went on forever. I didn't bother to read it I just took it and signed it. I rolled it back up and passed it back to Balin.
"What about you Baggins, you coming?" asked Balin?
"Let me have a look" Bilbo said Balin passed it to Bilbo who too it and started to skim through it.
He started muttering what it said under his breath. All I could make out was "funeral arrangements in case of death" and the word "incineration". "INCINERATION" said Bilbo, obviously not amused by the word.
"Ah that would be a reference to smaug the terrible, he will melt the flesh of your bones in the blink of an eye" said bofur. I gave Bofur a look that said, what are you doing don't say that. I looked back to Bilbo, who seemed to be having a bit of trouble breathing.
"Just think furness with wings" said Bofur, still failing to realize that wasn't helping in the slightest.
"You all right there laddie?" asked Balin.
Everyone stared at the hobbit, as he took a deep breath and answered "nope". And then he fainted, he literally just fainted.
"BILBO" I yelled as Gandalf and I ran to his limp body, I looked back behind me to see all of the dwarfs where staring at the hobbit, even Thorin looked concerned or was he just amused.
"I'll go make some tea" Gandalf nodded as he picked Bilbo up and placed him in his arm chair. After about 5 minutes I came back with a cup of tea to see that Bilbo was now awake. I placed the mug on the arm of the chair. Bilbo took it without saying a word.
Bilbo took a sip of his tea "I don't see why you picked me I'm not a Took I'm a Baggins" he gave a small whimper. "Of bag end". After that Gandalf just went and joined the dwarfs. I sighed and sat down in the chair next to Bilbo. We sat there for a while until we both heard a low but deep hum coming from the living room; I got up and poked my head round the door to see that all the dwarfs where crowded around the fire place. I went back to my seat and as soon as I sat down I heard the dwarfs begin to sing I listened to the lyrics that seemed to tell the story of Erebor.
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 wind was on the withered heath,
But in the forest stirred no leaf:
There shadows lay be night or day,
And dark things silent crept beneath
The wind went on from West to East;
All movement in the forest ceased,
But shrill and harsh across the marsh
Its whistling voices were released.
Farewell we call to hearth and hall!
Though wind may blow and rain may fall,
We must away ere break of day
Far over the wood and mountain tall.
I couldn't help but feel love for the song until I felt myself falling asleep I started to panic but then remembered I was in my human form. I sighed and let the song cast me into a sleep.
I woke with a start as I realized my back hurt, but I couldn't figure out why until I realized I was in a chair. Then it all came back to me the night before with all the dwarfs then I remembered signing the contract. I got up and walked to the living room where I saw a hobbit signing the same contract as the one I signed.
The hobbit looked up and saw me. "You should probably get your weapons ready." He said, gesturing to the chest.
"You're coming?" I asked
"Yes" he answered
I gave him a large smile and "good, I was wondering whether or not I would have someone to talk to." He gave me a smile in return. I smiled again and picked up my weapons and opened the round door for the hobbit, only he just stood there.
"Are you coming?"