Chapter 2: Meeting the Companions

Created: 8-16-17

A/N: I don't own anything.

As the evening was drawing to a close and the time of the meeting drew closer, Bilbo Baggins was hard at work. Many well-wishing relatives have been bringing extravagant dishes for his soon to be guests. He has been having to sort them for hours.

(The relatives are probably more excited for this adventure than Bilbo himself is. Mainly because they would inherit the most desirable property, known as Bag End, if Bilbo died while on his adventure.)

Most of the well-wishers were also loitering around his property too, until Bilbo put a stop to that.

("It is very rude to be loitering", he said loudly, and suddenly, everyone was gone.)

In the peace of his smial, Bilbo was wondering if this adventure was actually worth going on. His mother had warned him that even if it was rude, if he didn't feel comfortable going somewhere or doing something, than he could decline.

Many would not understand why his mother would dare to go against the unspoken rules of society so often, but Bilbo listened to her teachings. They had saved him from embarrassment more than once.

However, while Bilbo was thinking, knocking startled him. The first of his guests had arrived.

What stood behind the door surprised him.

As a hobbit who had never left the Shire, Bilbo obviously has never seen several of the common races of Middle Earth, only heard of them. Elves, Men, and Dwarves being the ones he wanted to see, and orcs, goblins, and trolls being the ones he wanted to avoid.

So hopefully this excuse will be part of the reason he was staring at what could only be a dwarf on his front porch. The dwarf was huge, with tattoos and piercings standing out after an initial once-over. On his back, there was two axes, which are the first real weapons Bilbo has seen.

(Living in the Shire means that the only threat is falling or tripping. Hobbits may have seen battle or hardships in the past, but now, there are no reasons to carry weapons. No one commits crimes because everyone trusts each other.)

"Dwalin, son of Fundin, at your service."

The sentence was spoken in such a gruff manner that it startled the hobbit out of his stupor.

"Ahh, Bilbo Baggins at yours. Excuse me, but are you part of Gandalf's party?"

The sentence was not spoken with much tact but he had to make sure that he wasn't inviting some random person into his home.

"He said there would be food, and lots of it." After saying his piece, the dwarf tried to barge in.

"He said? Gandalf? Sir, please tell me, are you part of Gandalf's party?"

Trying to block the door from this huge dwarf, Dwalin, was probably not the smartest move in the world, but it is always good to be cautious of strangers. Dwalin looked amused at Bilbo's attempt of keeping him out, but answered his question.

"Aye, but it is more Thorin's party than Gandalf's." The second part was said quieter, almost like he was talking to himself.

Bilbo started a bit, realizing that he has been very rude to one of his guests. He had forced Dwalin to identify himself, doubted his words, and made him stand outside. (His father would probably be ashamed of his behavior.)

Bilbo invited Dwalin inside, making sure he took off his coat, shoes, and put his weapons in a chest by the door. Then he herded Dwalin into the dinning room so he could serve him some food as a snack while they waited for the others. Dwalin looked annoyed by his fussing, but went along with it anyways.

This encounter set the pace for the rest of the night. Dwarves came in groups of twos, and threes, put their gear by the door, and ate the home-cooked meals provided by overzealous, curious relatives. (Many of the Dwarves were surprised by how Bilbo looked, just as how he was surprised by how they looked. They were expecting a burglar to be more sneaky looking.)

The night went by peacefully until Thorin came, but that is a king for you. They just have to make grand entrances, say snarky comments, and ruin the happy atmosphere.

However, once Bilbo heard that his job on this adventure was to steal from a dragon, he became skeptical. How could a hobbit, who knows nothing of stealing, burglar from a dragon?! Don't dragons have noses that can smell scents for miles?! He can't do that! He'll be burned alive!

This direction of thinking is what started this whole mess in the first place. Bilbo started to have negative thoughts about his job as a burglar before the company had even left. You could almost say that in his mind, he had rejected the invitation.

(Once you are asked, you must be asked again in person if you reject the invitation the first time. If you are not asked again to leave, then you can't cross the border without something peculiar happening to you, which is what happens to everyone.)

However, Bilbo did not know that he had rejected the first invitation in his mind. He wasn't even planning on going until he heard the Dwarves sing about their home. The contract on the table was very tempting the next morning.

The door has just been shut on an empty smial that lost its owner to an adventure.

Extra:

After getting the snack for Dwalin, Bilbo had to ask a question.

"Umm, excuse me if this seems rude, but how many are in Gandalf's, I mean Thorin's, party? Gandalf didn't give me an exact number. He just said to have enough food for a small hobbit gathering, but some of those can be quite large…"

Dwalin looked up from is snack with a blank face. "He didn't tell you how many of us there are?"

"No?"

"Do you even know what the quest is for?"

"No? Gandalf said that it is just an adventure."

Dwalin looked angry, though Bilbo couldn't figure out why.

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