Bree was a travelers town which thrived on the meeting of two great roads, the Great East Road and Greenway. Gandalf, had finally found the lost King Under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield. They spoke of the wizards proposition, the quest to reclaim Erebor from the famed drake named Smaug who took everything from the exiled king. Setting Gandalf's plan in motion, Thorin had set out to speak with the other dwarf envoys to gain their approval. He soon received word that twelve others would join Thorin on his quest but would wait to see if others would come.
Feeling quite proud of himself, Gandalf had selected a hobbit as the company's burglar. He chuckled at the very thought, Hobbits such as Bilbo Baggins never liked anything unexpected. Walking through the dirt roads, he passed through the market area where traveling merchants sold their worldly items. He was a unusual spectacle, a tall man clothed in grey robes with a matching tall hat and a wooden staff. He would stroke his beard methodically as he would look at merchandise. His favorite tobacco merchant was rumored to be in town.
The Prancing Pony was in sight, he felt tempted with the thought of brunch as he made his way to the door. On one the benches on the outside of the pub was that of a young woman. Wearing a comfortable grey dress as she sat with a leather tweed bound journal. Next to her was a bustle of different array of plants and in her hand she sketched them with a charcoal pencil.
"An herbalist?" he inquired curiously, she looked up. She was petite in stature, her face was delicate and framed framed by her long pale blonde hair which was pulled in a neat side braid. Brown eyes gaze at him in a curious stare as she raised a brow. Quite unusual for a young human woman to be traveling alone. And when a glimmer of gold caught his attention, immediately he recognized the beads braided into her hair, it was not everyday that a human wore something so distinctive.
The woman looked back to the bushel of herbs before to her unexpected visitor "why yes, well, more of a healer actually but I do love taking the time to study various plants. Many find it a rather boring hobby but I enjoy it. Great knowledge comes from knowing your local forestry"
With a jolly chuckle, Gandalf took the seat next to her, pulling out his pipe and little bag of tobacco. His eyes peeked into the journal, a beautiful sketch it was with little notes of her handwriting on the side. He noticed a list, similar to a written recipe next to the sketch. Filling his pipe, he quickly lit it with a little flame that burst from his fingertips. She watched, her eyes widening.
"You're that wizard that I have heard about!" she stated, excitement filling in her eyes.
He puffed some smoke with a cheeky grin before extending his hand, he wore fingerless gloves underneath the heavy sleeves of his grey robe. "Gandalf the Grey, or so they call me."
"Marion Tyndall of Boulder Town." she shook his hand firmly
"The Blue Mountains, eh? You are quite far away from home. I trust you are familiar with dwarves that reside there." he gestured to the beads with his finger, Marion raised her hand to her hair to gently touching the golden beads, a far away look in her eyes.
"Yes...they were a gift from someone I cherish and adore utterly." she smiled fondly before looking to him "tell me Gandalf, what brings you here?"
"I am waiting for a gathering to happen. I have a few hours to spare before I head to The Shire."
Marion perked with interest "is that so? I was thinking about going over there, I hear it's the right time of season for their farmers market and vegetable contests."
Gandalf smiled "Well, if you are not leaving anytime soon, we shall go together. The Shire is a wonderful place, peaceful and simple. The residents are quite wonderful." he paused for a moment, pondering his next question. "So tell me Marion, where is the person you cherish and adore so utterly?"
A small hum escaped her lips as she pondered her answer, "Well, I do not know where he is but it's been almost four years since I last saw him. He left the Blue Mountains on a personal quest, he did not specify what it was but I have been looking for him but so far I haven't the slightest clue to where he is and so..." she gave him a smile with a shrug "I have taken to wandering."
Taking a look at the dwarvish beads once more, a little idea popped into his head. He wasn't sure how it would pan out but if his assumptions were correct, then she was closer finding him than she thought, maybe one of the dwarves could point her in the right direction. The young woman looked experienced and determined, maybe...he would dwell more on that thought later.
"Well..if you plan to stay at The Shire long, why don't you join me as my plus one to this merry gathering? Some food and plenty of rest before you continue your journey." Mischief glimmered in his eyes, she cast him a perplexed stare before she laughed. Marion was unsure why she trusted him but...she did.
"I have yet to experience a Hobbit's party, so... why not?"
"Splendid, we leave this afternoon. Meet me here when you are ready, we will be arriving at the destination in the evening. I must tend to something before we go."
Marion stood up, smoothing out the skirt of her dress before she began to gathered her items, a beaming smile on her face. "I am staying at the Inn across the way, I shouldn't be long to gather my things."
"No trouble Marion, I am sure arriving fashionably late wouldn't be a problem." he winked at her, causing her smile to broaden.
"See you soon Master Gandalf." she assured before she turned on her heel and began to navigate through the dusty street, Gandalf watched until she was out of sight before he stood up to go inside the Prancing Pony, he didn't really have anything to tend to in there but he fancied a small drink before he embarked to the Shire, he would need it.
When the time came, Marion found Gandalf waiting at the front of the Prancing Pony, he gave her wave as he saw her. She was packed with a small bag of all she possessed along with her bow and quiver of arrows. A small dagger strapped to her belt and she had changed into her favorite dark green dress so she didn't look so travel worn, she was going to a party after all and she also made sure to wash her face. As she approached, she waved to him in a friendly manner.
"I am ready." she announced excitedly, "I will follow your way good sir."
"Armed to the teeth I see? Good, this way!" He gestured with his staff to follow along with him.
Gandalf and Marion began their trek along the great east road until they came upon a trail that would lead them to the path along the Brandywine River. Gandalf hummed a travelers tune and she soon joined him, the song growing into a merry harmony. Marion shared her rations of bread and cheese with him for a light snack before they continued on their way.
Afternoon slowly went with the sun as the sunset gave the peaceful forest a calming glow, Marion basked in the cool air and could see the peakings of evening stars in the dusk colored sky.
"Gandalf, can you tell me about Hobbits?" she inquired as they reached a well preserved road, Gandalf hummed thoughtfully.
"They are some of the loveliest people you will ever meet to be honest. They prefer the quiet, simple life and are usually shy to strangers. Never do anything unexpected and are not fond of adventures."
"Well, color me curious then." she shouldered her pack and Gandalf smirked under his beard, he thought it was best to keep the nature of said party to himself.
When they reached the Shire, Marion instantly noticed it was a peaceful, tranquil place. Built under grassy hills, they were neat looking homes with carefully tended gardens and large, round, colorful doors. Small, little people were preparing for the evening with lanterns and wisps of smoke that escape the chimneys. Valleys of green stretched as far as the eye could see, in the distance she could see what she assumed was the town square, booming laughter and voices echoed in the air.
"Oh how I wish to see this in the daylight." Marion wished excitedly, her eyes searched for the little silhouettes of who she guessed were hobbits in the distance.
"Where are we going exactly?" she then asked curiously.
"To a place called Bag End, owned by one of the oldest Hobbit families in the Shire. Our host is Mister Bilbo Baggins."
"I wonder what he's like..." Marion muttered to herself, but Gandalf did not reply, seeing as though she would know soon enough.
Upon the narrow upward path, Gandalf heard a group of hush whispers, in the dimming light he could see a group, looking around in place at the fork in the road. Not sure of which house to go too.
"Ah, there is some of the party." he chuckled, quickening his pace. Marion studied them for a moment, her heart pounded in her chest as she recognized the great beards and burly dispositions. Dwarves, though none looked remotely close to Thorin.
"Hello my fellow friends!" he called to them, they looked to him and a collective sigh of relief occurred.
"Where have you been Gandalf?" one rough called out "Where is this house you said to meet you at?"
"Follow me, it's just up ahead!" Gandalf instructed as he walked passed them to lead the way.
Then their eyes laid on Marion, she swallowed before she gave a tentative nod. She had remembered meeting other dwarves in her travels, many did not have a wink of friendliness in them. Not like Thorin... Dwarves were rough and secretive, many would never even speak a word to her when she asked for their help.
"Who is she?" One of the grey bearded dwarves asked as he brought an ear horn to his right ear.
"Ah, everyone meet my companion Marion Tyndall, she will be joining us this evening." Gandalf introduced quickly, "Now I believe everyone has arrived, shall we join the others?"
The dwarves, forgetting about Marion soon eagerly headed up the road, talking excitedly among themselves about a supposed feat that was supposed to be prepared at this party.
Marion following close behind Gandalf as he directed them to the house on top of the hill overlooking the entire Shire, she could hear loud voices inside the Hobbit hole as one of the Dwarves rang the bell. She watched as they started to huddle at the door rather closely, arguing among themselves about who was going to enter first.
Marion looked to Gandalf for an explanation to their manners but he merely sighed before he reached to ring the doorbell. After only a moment, she heard an angry voice ranting on about something funny or another before the round door to the Hobbit home was swung wide open. The huddled dwarves fell on top of each other, groaning and moaning, flailing to get up.
The stressed looking Hobbit gaped at his guests, looking to Gandalf as he lowered himself to look inside, he gave who Marion assumed was Bilbo Baggins a little smile, Bilbo however didn't looked so pleased. Marion greeted with a curtsy for good measure as the Dwarves gathered themselves, shouting names as they merrily greeted the other Dwarves who were making a rather huge mess of their hosts home.
"Gandalf." The hobbit greeted irritably.
"Bilbo, wonderful to see you again. I hope you don't mind that I have brought one more person?" he gestured to Marion. The tall wizard ducked inside, taking off his hat in the process. His head barely touched the roof above them. Marion had to duck slightly under the door frame but she fitted rather comfortably. This was one of the only times in her life she felt pleased for being such a small human.
"Bilbo Baggins, meet Marion Tyndall from the Boulder Town."
Bilbo looked at her funny before he heard a crash from behind him. He lifted a finger, "Excuse me," he gasped as he ran to the stream of dwarves that walked too and fro from what Marion assumed was the pantry.
"Set your things anywhere, I need to take a headcount." Gandalf set his hat and staff on the wall by the door. Marion looked around the beautiful foyer, now a slight mess from all of the dwarven items scattered in all directions. Marion made a point to set her things down neatly before she walked further into the Hobbit Home. Without the commotion, she could see that this home was normally clean and well kept, it felt cozy and comfortable. Unlike her home back in Boulder, which was made of stone and wood. Hanging from the ceiling were candle chandeliers that gave the home a warm and welcoming feel, she avoided the muddy footprints to avoid tracking anymore mud through the soon to be demolished home.
Marion watched from a distance as the the dwarves brought the food from the pantry to the table in the dining room without permission. Her host, Bilbo, was desperately trying to get them to put everything back but to no avail. She looked to Gandalf who was helping the dwarves set up. She shook her head with a smile, she had a feeling that this wasn't going to end very well.
"Excuse me, Mister Gandalf?" one dwarf asked, carrying a tray of a teapot with two tea cups. "might I tempt you with a cup of chamomile?"
Gandalf turned and shook his head "Oh, no thank you Dori, a little red wine will suffice. But might you offer that to Lady Marion over there, she looks a little thirsty."
Dori looked around the bend of the entryway to look at Marion whom pointed at herself, he looked delighted as he wiggled his way past some of his company, carrying a tray with a teapot and some matching cups before handing her a hot cup of tea. She definitely could smell the chamomile along with a touch of lavender.
"Dori, at your service madam," he bowed his head politely, she curtsied. She noticed one of the dwarves staring at her, he was the tallest and strongest looking. His shaved head was tattooed in various Dwarven designs, he carried a tankard of ale. He had looked familiar but she couldn't place it.
Marion sipped at her tea and gaze averted to the pantry which was looking more empty by the moment, she pitied the Hobbit who looked about ready to tear his golden locks out. Then Gandalf came into view as he began to make a headcount of all of the dwarves. Listing their names off, Marion had lost the names already except for Dori.
"It appears that we are one dwarf short," Gandalf hummed curiously.
"He is late is all, he traveled north with a meeting of our kin, he will come." the tattooed dwarf raised his tankard with a reassuring nod. Gandalf nodded before Dori returned with his wine.
Marion was so distracted by everything, watching the dwarves happily carry plates of food and towers of cheese rolls, barrels of ale and bottles of wine. She wasn't sure what she should do, they were so distracted with setting up that they barely noticed her watching. She leaned up against the wall with her tea cooling in its mug, she couldn't help but feel amused. This was by far the most unusual dinner party she had ever been invited too.
She did not notice a pair of dwarves approaching behind her until one gave a rather gentle touch on her shoulder, causing her to turn and face who it was. Two dwarves, almost identical save for their hair, one was fair while the other dark. They gave her friendly smiles and she returned, although nervously, inkind.
"Oh, hello!" she greeted warmly.
"And who might you be?" the fair haired dwarf asked, a flirtatious grin spread across his face.
"I am Marion." she raised her teacup to them with a smile before she curtsied. The dark haired one took her cup from her hands, they looked to each other with mischievous grins.
"Fili," the fair haired one took her right hand
"And Kili," the dark haired one took her left, simultaneously raising her hands to their lips and placing a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. Marion felt her face and ears burn with a fierce blush.
"At your service" they said softly in unison, their handsome faces proud. Marion began to sputter when the big dwarf approached, clapping his strong hands roughly on their shoulders.
"Come on boys, supper is ready!"
Dragging them away to the dining room, Marion began to rub her hands as is trying to ward off the effect of their kiss on their knuckles. Never before has she ever been greeted like that in her life! She breathed deeply to soothe her butterflies and she felt her face calm.
She could hear the party of dwarves having a grand time in the dining room and she walked over to watch the messy spectacle. Food was vanishing into ravenous mouths, they were tossing it at each other in playful merriment, Marion managed to grab an apple before it vanished from the greedy, grasping hands of hungry dwarves. The bald one poured his tankard of ale down the ear horn of the nearly deaf one. Everyone laughed, even Marion as he blew the contents out as the horn made a rather silly honk. The one named Fili walked across the table with tankards of ale as the rest of the company shouted at him to get off.
"Come on lads, make a plate for the lady here!" a dwarf with a funny hat shouted, the company gave a joyous shout as all the dwarves messily made a plate before the one with the funny hat gave it to her with a smile.
"Bofur, at your service milady." his smiled sweetly at her.
"Why thank you," Marion took the offering, food falling to the floor. She picked at the messy plate, unsure if she should eat it or not. She turned from the party to find a quiet place to find anything edible on her offering. She happened to look upon Bilbo who was gaping at his pantry in shock, feeling great empathy for his predicament, she walked up to him she offered him her plate.
"Here, at least eat something." She offered the plate to him, her brow furrowed in sympathy as Bilbo looked up at her, he waved his hands .
"No no no.. you may eat that if you wish."
Marion set the plate down on one of the empty shelves, not feeling much of an appetite. "I can assure you sir that I wasn't expecting... this." She looked over her shoulder to the ravaging pack of dwarves. "Gandalf told me it was a Hobbit's party."
"Glad to know I am not the only one who feels perplexed by all this." he released a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping downward.
When he looked at her again, he gave her another funny expression similar to the one before "are you... a dwarf?" he asked curiously.
Marion laughed "No, I am just a very little human."
Bilbo looked slightly confused as his eyes scanned her up and down, "then how did you get involved in all this?"
"I guess the same way you just were, I was roped into all this with no clue to why or give any knowledge to the purpose of this party." Marion shook her head "well, whatever it is, surely it sounds important if a wizard organized this."
"Well you have been probably the only polite guest in this house, it's only fair if I offer you another cup of tea. I surely need some... since my wine is all gone."
"Oh no Bilbo" Marion kindly refused the gesture, "allow me the honor to make you some, take a rest and please let me know if you are need of help cleaning everything."
Bilbo began to fluster over her offer but the dwarves caught their attention as they cheered, brought their glasses and tankards together and began to drink deeply and messily in their impromptu toast. Then a couple belching quite loudly before the dwarven company burst into roaring fits of laughter. Bilbo ran his hands over his face, Marion casted him a look of sympathy. She had come to learn tonight that dwarves were not excellent dinner guests.
"Some manners they've got." she mused, shaking her head. Bilbo nodded with her in agreement.
As the night continued on, the dwarf guests moved from their table and began to spread out across the hobbit home. Marion took one of the seats that wasn't currently occupied in the living room by the window, crossing her legs and resting her hands in her lap. She watched the dwarves wander the house, argue, joke about and even play tug of war with a long link of sausage.
The one called Bofur began to make witty talk at their host as Bilbo scrambled to retrieve a doily from another dwarf's hands whom was wiping his face on.
"Excuse me, that is a doily, not a dishcloth!" Bilbo scolded as he snatched the doily from the dwarf, looking it over quickly for any damages.
"But it's full of holes!" Bofur retorted back, he was leaning against the wall rather casually with a tankard in hand.
"It's crochet," Bilbo hissed, placing it back on the shelf where it belonged.
"Oh what a wonderful game it is too, if you have the balls for it!" Bofur and a few other dwarves began to laugh as Bilbo stomped his feet and angrily strode over to Marion's side, slamming a fist fist rather weakly on the table.
"Bebother and confusticate these dwarves!"
Marion reached out and placed a gentle hand on his arm "Take a deep breath friend, once this is over you won't have to deal with this again."
Before Bilbo could answer, Gandalf approached them " my dear Bilbo, what on earth is the matter?"
BIlbo was fuming, Marion pulled her hand from Bilbo as he whipped his entire, small body around to face their tall companion.
"What's the matter? I'm surrounded by dwarves. What are they doing here?" his voice was high as he shook from his frustration, Gandalf gave a rather sympathetic smile.
"Oh, they're quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them." his voice trailed off as he turned his to look at the state of the Hobbit's home. Marion chewed on her lower lip slightly as she stood up and offered another comforting smile to her new friend.
"I am sure this is the only time this is going to happen Master Bilbo, I would reckon this isn't a usual gathering." her eyes glanced to Gandalf who paid her no mind.
Bilbo let out a frustrated sigh as he stormed away from them both,
"I don't want to get used to them. The state of my kitchen! There's mud trod into the carpet, they've pi-pillaged the pantry. I'm not even going to tell you what they've done in the bathroom; they've all but destroyed the plumbing. I don't understand what they're doing in my house!"
Bilbo yelled in his frustration, he had wandered throughout the home and gestured to every bit of damage that the dwarves inflicted. Marion and Gandalf him to assess the damage, Marion could understand his frustration. He was undoubtedly unprepared for this party and Marion turned to look at the wizard.
"You could have warned me too Master Gandalf, I was told that this was a hobbits party." Marion scolded with a small amount of humor in her tone.
Bilbo gestured to Marion in agreement "I could at least been given a little warning!"
Gandalf placed a hand on his side, sighing in amusement at Bilbo's frustration and Marion's scolding but before he could get a word in, the other young look dwarf came in with his plate. His clothes were overly large and baggy, his facial hair was wispy and had a rather funny haircut.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt but what should I do with my plate?" he asked rather innocently and politely, Bilbo gave him a seething glare before Fili walked in.
"Here Ori give it to me," taking the plate from him, Filli flicked the plate to Kili who emerged from the kitchen. Gandalf had barely any time to move he and Marion out of the way as Dwarves began to toss plates as Fili and Kili, doing tricks with the dishware before tossing it to the next dwarf. Poor Bilbo began to panic at the sight of his dishware flying across the room.
"Excuse me, that's my mother's West Farthing crockery, it's over a hundred years old!" he shouted anxiously as one rather large plate whizzed y his head.
At the dining table four dwarves began to make music with their feet and the silverware. Bilbo entered the main dining room, baffled at the sight as they continued their entertainment.
"A-and can you not do that, you'll blunt them!" Bilbo pointed at the dwarves like a scolding mother,
"Ooh you hear that lads, he says we'll blunt the knives!" Bofur teased, laughter followed to. Marion felt confused as to why none of them would heed Bilbo's pleas for them to stop.
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks!" Kili began to sing
"Smash the bottle and burn the corks"
"Chip the glasses and crack the plates!" the dwarves began to chant in musical rhythm, Marion watched in awe as they continued their acrobatic tricks with tossing the dishware about the house.
"That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates
Cut the cloth and trail the fat!
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!
Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Splash the wine on every door!"
A lute and a stringed instrument were pulled out and began a cheerful melody as the song continued, Marion couldn't resist the urge to clap along as she watched plates, cups, knives, forks and spoons fly through the air in perfect rhythm with the song. Bilbo desperately tried to grab his precious dishes. Marion had moved into the kitchen with the rest of them, she saw the huge, neat piles of dishes first and she gasped.
"Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl;
Pound them up with a thumping pole;
And when you've finished, if they are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
Bilbo ran in behind her, his face red with fury at such disrespect to his household items before he saw them all in a neatly stacked rows on the main dinner table. Booms laughed filled the kitchen at the sight of his face, Marion giggled and applauded the performance. Bilbo gaped before relief flooded his features, she offered a hand to him.
"You alright?" she asked, trying her best not to smile.
"I...I need a minute." he mumbled weakly, it was almost unheard to Marion against the loud noise of cheers and laughter.
Three pounding knocks had suddenly silenced the merriment, all turned to look at the door just beyond the kitchen. Marion felt her heart pound in her chest, she assumed that this was their missing guest that she had overheard from Gandalf earlier. Gandalf looked to each one of the dwarves, a puff of smoke escaped his lips.
"He is here..." he murmured and the crowd grew tense, Gandalf moved from the table and gestured to a dwarf to get the door, Marion and Bilbo exchanged a confused glace with him before he went to follow the rest of the dwarves as they left the kitchen. Marion began to follow but Gandalf's hand was pressed on her shoulder, stopping her. She turned to look up at him with a furrowed gaze.
"Something the matter?" she asked, slightly worried.
"Wait here. He does not know you are here and he would be most upset if I didn't warn him first." he gave her a gentle smile, Marion nodded and took a hesitant seat in at the kitchen table and a moment later he could hear the door being opened for their new arrival.
"Gandalf" a regal voice greeted as even steps entered the home, Marion froze in her seat, her heart felt like a pounding hammer in her chest. Her breath caught in the cavity of her throat...no, it couldn't be.
"I thought you said this place would be easy to find, I lost my way, twice." his serious tone was laced with a bit of humor at his last words, "I wouldn't been able to find it at all hadn't been for the mark on the door."
"Mark? there's not a mark on that door. I painted it a week ago!" Bilbo's appalled tone broke her out of her trance. The urge to run to this voice was burning in her thighs but she kept herself rooted.
"There is a mark there I put it myself," Gandalf cut in quickly with uneasy tone as he quickly closed the door "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."
Marion suddenly felt dizzy as she placed an arm on the table, she covered her mouth with her other hand so that she wouldn't make any sounds. How could this be, did Gandalf know that that this was the man she talked of? Waiting for four years and searched for another, tears of mixed emotions threaten to spill over in her eyes. Thorin was alive and he was alive and well, how could he not tell her?
"By the heavens above..."Marion muttered to herself as she thought of what to do, she knew that she couldn't just sit there and wait. Wiping her tears on her sleeve, she finally willed herself to stand up and to peek at what was happening. Staying out of sight, she began to watch the meeting between Thorin and Bilbo.
"So, this is the hobbit." Thorin stated, she could tell that he disapproved of Bilbo. "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"
"Excuse me?" Bilbo retorted in confusion.
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin circled the Hobbit like a predator would with prey.
Bilbo gave a soft snort "Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."
Thorin made an indignant noise as he looked to his comrades with a smirk "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
How rude! Marion thought to herself in anger, Bilbo has been nothing but very hospitable. She knew Thorin and she knew that this was not like him at all!
Thorin's comment was followed by a rumble of laughter, this made Marion's temper flare even further. Without another thought and blinded by anger, she rounded the bend to face him and everyone else.
"Hey!" she barked, all of the company stopped before they entered the living room, surprised expressions gazed upon Marion. Her chest raised up and down with her furious breaths and her nostrils flared.
"Bilbo Baggins has been nothing but generous and tolerant to all of you, how are you insult him like that." Marion strode to stand next to Bilbo, standing slightly before him
"Marion..." Bilbo began but said nothing more as all the eyes of the dwarven company fell upon her with the exception of one. None dared to speak, the tension that filled the room was thick and could almost be cut through with a sharp sword.
Thorin slowly turned to face her and their eyes met and Marion felt her whole body quake with a mixture of anger and nerves. She held her breath so she did not gasp at the sight of him, she could feel the heat of her emotions throughout her body, but she refused to look away.
Thorin looked much older than the last time she laid eyes on him, his midnight hair was streaked with silver, he kept his length of beard. He still looked so ruggedly handsome that caused her temper to soften. The silence between them was unbearable, Marion did not understand why he did not greet her. But her answer came when she saw what was reflected in his eyes, it was what caused all hope in her heart to wither and die. There was no surprise, no happiness...no love. Only a shadow clouded those eyes she had longed to see. This was not the Thorin she knew, this Thorin had refused to acknowledge her. Instead he looked beyond furious, his eyes darkened as they narrowed his gaze at her.
"What is the meaning of this?" Thorin accused, his eyes looked to Gandalf "I thought this was a private gathering."
"It is, no one else knows you're all here." Gandalf assured, he looked to Marion before he spoke again.
"May I present Marion Tyndall of Boulder Town, I happened to acquaint her friendship her at Bree and I brought her as my plus one."
Marion swallowed the lump in her throat, a tingling sensation traveled all over her hands and up her arms. She let out a shaky exhale as she straightened her back, her eyes never breaking away from Thorins. She had no more words she could speak, her throat and tongue seemed to feel to solid to speak, her heart pounded in her chest like drum, her chest ached painfully.
Thorin did not say another word, he looked to Gandalf before he coldly turned away and headed for the kitchen, the rest soon followed as they began to talk among themselves.
Marion felt her knees quake beneath her dress, it took all of her willpower to not have them buckle beneath her from the sheer emotion she felt. Putting on her bravest smile, she turned around to face Bilbo, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder. Pushing back the hot tears to hide her whirlwind of emotions.
"I am so sorry to have caused such a ruckus, I just could not stand aside and let them insult you like that" she then cast a glance to Gandalf "and I am sorry to you as well. "
"It is quite alright Marion, let them be for a bit and all will be well." Gandalf nodded before he rested his head against the ceiling beam, he looked very irritated, most likely caused by the exchange between the dwarf, human and hobbit.
"Don't let it get to you Gandalf, in the times I have met dwarves, they are as stubborn as the boulders that surround my home."
Marion laughed a little, further masking her feelings of confusion and hurt, Gandalf muttered something under his breath and followed them into the dining room.
Bilbo looked to Marion and gave her a thankful smile "Thank you Marion." he then nervously scratched his head and cleared his throat. "Would you like some tea?"
"Oh...yes please." Marion accepted softly.
Making haste to the kitchen to make tea and to make sure that the dwarves did not make a another mess of his kitchen, he left Marion alone in the foyer of the hobbit home.
She only had to blink before the tears began to flow in heavy streams, she held her breath so she would not cry out in her pain. She felt confused as to why she was suddenly cast aside like a useless item.
To say that Thorin had disappointed her was an understatement, she could not deny the girlish fantasies she had of him; To seeing her so unexpectedly and wanting nothing more than to take her into his arms. As she wiped her tears, she felt that her eyes were dry and when she blinked it stung. Maybe now was not a good time to rekindle everything with Thorin just yet, not after the spectacle she just pulled. She needed a moment to breath, to calm down before she approached him.
She moved from the foyer to the seat by the window that looked out onto the garden, it was lush and well kept. She could see herbs she recognized such as Sage, Rosemary and bits of Kings Wort. Marion felt Bilbo approached as he brought her a ceramic mug of creamy hot liquid.
"I put a splash of cream in there if you don't mind." he offered it to her, she took it graciously with a smile.
"Thank you," she sipped at it carefully "Mmm, it's delicious."
Bilbo took a set next to her, setting his own mug of tea on the table while Marion held hers close to her chest, the warmth of the tea seeped into her fingers down to her bones. She suddenly felt soothed and she felt the tension in her chest ease.
"Are you alright?" he asked, a soft expression on his face, she nodded in response to his worry.
"I am. Thank you Bilbo, but I am more worried about you."
Bilbo chuckled with a shake of his head "I have been better if you must know but at least everything is calm now."
"Indeed," Marion voice trailed off, her eyes glancing down at her tea before she sipped at it again. She could feel her hurt emotions bubble up in her chest against but were drowned when she swallowed her tea. This night was proven to be the most hectic experience she had ever known, but with Bilbo's company as he began to talk idly, she felt comforted.
She only hoped that this...rift between and her beloved Thorin will be closed by tonight's end.
