The First Stranger

I do not own the rights to the Hobbit

Before I start I have an announcement to make. I have published a Boromir OC story called "The Princess of Gwaintol" Check it out if you want to.

Chapter Three

I whistled a little tune to myself as I walked along the paved path up to Bag End. I must have appeared as a strange sight to anyone watching. My large brown cloak was stained a little by travel and the weather while my sturdy boots were dirty. On my back, concealed under my cloak, was a large leather sack holding my armour while on the right side of my belt hung my trusty mace, ready to be used at a moment's notice. On my right was my sword. It wasn't my favoured weapon but I still liked to keep one on hand, just in case. I had spoken with Gandalf earlier that day and he had told me to go to Bag End that night, after giving me some directions. As I walked along the path I passed a Hobbit drinking from a large bottle and he eyed me with some confusion. Hobbits were strange to look at, similar in appearance to men but still different. They were short and had extremely large hairy feet while their ears were pointed.

I walked past a brightly lit green door in the side of a hill, for some reason the Hobbits of the Shire preferred to live in underground dwellings rather than in houses. I nodded to myself and walked towards the door before looking at the bottom. There was a mark on the bottom of the door and, confident that I had found the right place, I rang the bell hanging by the door. After waiting for a few moments it opened and a slightly confused looking Hobbit answered it for me. Judging by the way he was dressed he appeared to be getting ready for bed.

'Master Baggins?' I asked him to see if he was "the burglar".

'Erm yes,' he replied and I smiled.

'Excellent,' I said and crouched as I walked in. 'I was worried I had come to the wrong place for a moment,' I hung my cloak on a peg in the wall and left my sack, sword and mace under it but I kept my knife attached to my belt. 'I'm Bartholomew Harris, at your service.'

I shook hands with him and he still looked puzzled.

'I think you may be at...'

'Greetings.'

I turned to the direction of the noise and I saw an extremely old dwarf with a large white beard walking towards me. He seemed welcoming.

'Greetings,' I responded and we shook hands, I was still crouching. 'Bartholomew Harris.'

'Yes Gandalf told us about you,' he said. 'My name is Balin. I understand that you have a good reason to join us.'

'In some ways it's the same reason,' I said to him. 'I want to go home.'

After nodding his head in agreement he led me through Bag End to a kitchen and a pantry where I found another Dwarf. He was a little taller than Balin, was mostly bald and had tattoos on his head. 'This is my brother Balin.'

'Pleasure to meet you Balin,' I said and we shook hands, his grip was like iron.

'Good to meet you too lad,' he said and smiled just as two more Dwarves walked in.

They were both young and one had blonde hair while the others hair was black. Dwalin warmly greeted the one with black hair, putting his arm around his shoulder while I went to speak with the blonde one.

'Bartholomew Harris,' I introduced myself again.

'Fili,' he introduced himself. 'That's my brother Kili.'

'It's an honour sir,' I said as we walked to the kitchen where Balin was already getting things organised.

The doorbell rang again and Bilbo walked to the door complaining about how there were too many dwarves and men in his dining room. I decided to follow him to make sure if everything was alright when he opened the door and a small avalanche of Dwarves poured in. I couldn't stop myself laughing at the ridiculous sight and behind them, through the door, I saw the tall form of Gandalf.

'Gandalf,' Bilbo said.

'Hello Bilbo,' he said as the Dwarves struggled to their feat. When the wizard saw me he smiled again and walked in. 'I'm glad you found your way Bartholomew.'

'Well I thought I was lost at one point,' I said and then I went into the kitchen to help get the food ready.

...

As the dwarves carried the food from the pantry to the kitchen I spoke with Gandalf.

'Is everyone here?' I asked as he steadied the small chandelier holding candles which he had walked into.

'We're one Dwarf short,' he replied.

'Who?'

'Thorin,' he replies.

'He is late is all,' Dwalin told us. 'He travelled north to a meeting of our kin. He will come.'

'Very good,' I said and then went into the kitchen as Gandalf was offered a glass of wine.

The feast covered the entire table but I didn't eat as much as the Dwarves did. I helped myself to some cheese, bread, lamb and chicken, as well as a strange fruit or vegetable, I still can't remember which it is, called a tomato. I was sitting next to a Dwarf named Gloin who had a massive red beard.

'Damn good food,' he proclaimed.

'Yes these Hobbits seem to keep plenty of good food,' I agreed. 'So why are you in this group my friend?'

'I'm in this because it's right,' he told me. 'Every Dwarf heart was broken when Erebor fell. I'll make Smaug pay for his crimes against our people.'

'I'll do my best to help,' I told him.

'I hear that you think a way home's in Erebor,' he said to me.

'I know it's a small hope but it's my only hope,' I said and ate a tomato. 'I'll make it back home to my sons even if I have to smash through Smaug himself.'

Gloin boisterously laughed and slapped me on my back.

'I like you Harris,' he said. 'You got plenty of spirit.'

'Thank you Gloin. Do you have any family?'

'A wife and a son,' he answered. 'My lad Gimli.'

'I have two sons,' I told him. 'James and Daniel.'

'Well I hope you make it back to them. You'll be a hero after we're done.'

Just then the table was silenced as a Dwarf named Bofur tossed a hardboiled egg across the table at a massive Dwarf named Bombur. He deftly caught it in his mouth and we all cheered for the success.

'Well done,' I shouted and laughed.

I hadn't been to a meal like that one since before I was married when I and my friends would go into every tavern we could find and drink all we could. I was not that same young man though so I excused myself from the table after a while and went to speak with Bilbo. I founf him the entrance to the kitchen, watching as the Dwarves started to throw food at each other.

'I'm sorry for all of this trouble,' I said to the Hobbit.

'Why are you all here?' he asked me.

'You don't know?' I asked him, feeling surprised and a little annoyed at the wizrd.

'Nope.'

'I'm so sorry Mister Baggins I thought you knew,' I said and fished out my purse. I didn't have much money in it but I pulled out a couple of coins and passed them to him. 'As an apology,' I told him.

'Oh thank you,' he said and looked at them before passing them back. 'There's no need. Keep them.'

'I insist,' I said and made him keep them.

'Alright,' he agreed and slipped them into his trouser pocket.

'So how long has this place been in your family?' I asked him to take his mind off of the devastation in his kitchen.

'My father built it,' he explained. 'It's the best Hobbit Hole in the Shire.'

'He certainly did a good job,' I told him. 'Back in England most people try to show off when they build something but your home manages to impress without putting towers everywhere. I think this could be a better home than my castle.'

'Thank you,' he said and smiled, pleased to have his home complimented. 'Wait, did you say castle?'

'Yes. It was originally an old ruin from hundreds of years ago but my great, great grandfather rebuilt it. My family's lived there ever since.'

'Are you important at your home?'

'Fairly. I'm a noble and I mainly had to recruit men for my king's army.'

'Why are you here then?'

'It's complicated,' I explained. 'Let's just say this companies mission is important to me going home.'

'Fair enough,' he said and shrugged his shoulders. 'You said England. I've never heard of it.'

'It's a long way from here. With any luck I'll be able to start home again soon.'

'I hope you do Bartholomew.'

...

The meal had just finished and I was just clearing my plate when some of the Dwarves started throwing them around and started to thump the table with their knives and forks. I stood away from the table and backed against the wall to avoid getting hit by flying plates and bowls when they started to sing.

Blunt the knives

Bend the forks

Smash the bottles and burn the corks

Chip the glasses and crack the plates

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!

I started to hurry to the kitchen to try and save some of Bilbo's belongings before they were destroyed but when I arrived I saw that they were being cleaned and stacked neatly. When Bilbo arrived and saw all of his bowls and plates intact he was amazed and I couldn't help but laugh as they finished their song. I shook my head at their antics and laughed but our moment of mirth ended when someone knocked on the door.

'He is here,' Gandalf said seriously and I got a sense that our leader had finally arrived.

At once we walked out of the kitchen and into the hall by the front door. Gandalf reached the door and opened it. When it had fully opened I saw for the first time in my life Thornin Oakenshield. He was a typical dwarf with a face which looked as if it had been carved from rock. As he walked in I could see the years and struggles written into every move he made. His black hair was streaked with gray and he spoke with a confidence of someone who knew that they were the leader. I was reminded for a moment of King Henry before Agincourt. I suppose I was in a new band of brothers.

After he walked in, and after Bilbo got over the shock of learning that there was a mark on his door, Gandalf introduced him to Bilbo and I.

'So,' he said when he looked at Bilbo, 'this is the Hobbit?' he then walked past Bilbo and without looking at him he began asking questions. 'Tell me Master Baggins, have you done much fighting?'

'Pardon me?'

'Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?' he then looked at me. 'The knight I assume. What's your weapon? Axe or sword.'

'Neither,' I replied. 'I use a mace.'

'Are you good with it?'

'I'm well known for being able to crush a skull with a single blow. Is that good enough for our mission?'

He smiled and nodded his head.

'Certainly,' he said and looked back at Bilbo. 'What about you?'

'Well I have some skill at playing conkers but I don't see what that's got to do with anything.'

'Thought as much,' Thorin said and, while looking at Bilbo said, 'He looks more like a grocer than a burglar,' to which the others laughed.

We walked back into the kitchen and, after Thornin had been given a bowl of stew, the meeting started. I was seated next to Gloin again while Bilbo was outside of the kitchen.

'What news from the meeting at Ered Luin?' asked Balin. 'Did they all come?'

'Aye,' Thorn answered. 'Envoys from all seven kingdoms.'

'And what did the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say?' asked Dwalin. 'Is Dain with us?'

For a moment he did not answer and I could tell by his movements that the news wasn't good.

'They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone.'

'Isn't there anything we can do?' I asked him. 'I'm not an expert but for the task at hand we'll need all the numbers we can get.'

'You're going on a quest?' Bilbo, who was now standing by Gandalf, asked us.

'Bilbo my dear fellow,' the wizard said, 'let us have a little more light.'

Gandalf reached into his robes and withdrew a sheet of parchment.

'Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak.'

He layed out the parchement on the table and I saw a small map displaying a wountain and above it was the picture of a dragon. When I laid eyes on that image I gulped and suddenly it all felt so real. We were going to face a dragon, a creature of nothing but terror and darkness.'

'The lonely Mountain,' Bilbo read the name.

'Aye,' Gloin suddenly spoke up, 'Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time.'

Oin, a fairly old Dwarf, then spoke up.

'Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it was foretold. "When the birds of yore return to Erebor the reign of the beast will end."

'So, what beast?' Bilbo asked nervously.

'That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible,' Bofur told him, 'chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather. Teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals.'

'Yes I know what a dragon is.'

'I'm not afraid!' a young Dwarf named Ori, declared. 'I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!'

Most of the others just told him to sit down but a few encouraged him; cheering him on but I was silent.

'The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us,' said Balin, 'we number just fourteen. And not fourteen of the best or brightest.'

After a moment of argument Fili spoke up.

'We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last Dwarf!'

'And you forget,' his brother declared, 'we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time.'

'Oh well, no. I wouldn't say-'

'How many then?' Dori asked him.

'What?'

'Well how many dragons have you killed?'

An argument started after that and I leaned back in my seat, content to wait it over. Fortunately it ended quickly when Thorin yelled something in Dwarfish.

'If we have read these signs do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look east to the mountain assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we take this chance to take back Erebor?'

Although I was not of his kind I felt moved by his speech and I too cheered in agreement.

'The Front Gate is sealed,' Balin reminded everyone. 'There is no way into the mountain.'

'That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true,' the wizard told him and pulled a key from his sleeve.

When Thorin looked at it his gaze was filled with wonder, as if he'd set eyes on the Holy Grail.

'How came you by this?'

'It was given to me by your father. By Thrain. For safekeeping. It is yours now.'

'What is this key for?' I asked Gandalf.

'These runes, Bartholomew, speak of a hidden passage to the to the Lower Halls.'

'There's another way in,' Kili said with happiness at finding this out.

'Well, if we can find it but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed,' Gandalf reminded the young Dwarf.

'This is getting better by the minute,' I said.

'The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map,' the wizard continued, 'and I do not have the skill to find it. There are, however, others in Middle Earth who can.'

Gandalf then explained to us that his plan will require a great amount of courage. In the end it would require intelligence as well as strength and skill with a weapon. When Dori realised that is why we needed a burglar Bilbo commented that the burglar would have to be an expert.

'Are you?' Gloin asked him and I rolled my eyes.

'Am I what?'

'He said he's an expert,' said Oin who I had just realised was hard of hearing because of the tube he held up to his ear.

The Hobbit of course quickly denied that he was an expert and more than that he claimed that he'd never stolen anything before. Many of the Dwarves agreed with him and, although I loathe admitting it now, I agreed as well. Another argument then started and I again chose to remain silent. The whole argument ended when Gandalf stood up and his shadow projected across the room.

'Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar then a burglar he is.'

Devils work, I thought to myself, suddenly wishing I hadn't left my mace by the door.

'Hobbits are light on their feet. In fact they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of Dwarf the scent of a Hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives the advantage,' he then looked at Thorin. 'You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mister Baggins and I have found a well trained warrior who will do whatever it takes to reclaim Erebor. There's a lot more to Mister Baggins than appearances suggest. He's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know. Including himself. Thorin, you must trust me on this.'

'Very well,' Thorin said but I could tell that he disliked it. 'Balin, give him the contract.'

The old Dwarf handed a contract to the Hobbit who took it and started to read through it. I didn't pay much attention to him until he feinted.

...

Later that evening it appeared that Bilbo had decided not to come. I didn't blame him, it appeared to be a mad quest from the start. To be honest, I still question my own sanity to this day for agreeing to join the company. I stood in the corner of the living room with the rest of the Dwarves. Eventually they started humming something and found myself listening to the solemn word they sung with the reverence normally reserved for the Nicean Creed .

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

It was at that moment I saw movement by the passage way and I saw Bilbo there. The look on his face was conflicted. I could tell that he was tempted to join but something was anchoring him to this place. He didn't truly want to leave home yet something inside him was telling to take a leap of faith. The look on his face said it all. When Thorin saw Bilbo he gave him a dismissive shrug and continued with the song.

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.

At that moment I knew my path was clear. I had to go with them. I had to see my sons again.

AN: Well that was chapter three and I hope you liked it. I enjoyed writing it.

Review Response:

KiyaNamiel: Well hopefully this adventure will be good enough. My main concern with writing this is that it will just turn out to be a retelling of the story. That said, I have something planned for later which will no doubt surprise you all.

TMI Fairy: Yeah I'm a bit of a history nut when it comes to weapons. I believe though that most knights did carry swords as a backup weapon in case their armour penetrating weapons failed them.