This story is about a family whom are the key-holders and Gatekeepers between our world/Wizarding World and Middle Earth. Adventure, friendships, and love drive this tail forward, but… there is More to The Story than meets the eyes and ears. OC's and real characters.
More to The Story takes place in Middle Earth during the time of the Hobbit, which coincides with the Second Wizard War. Gatekeeper, Ruben, and his witch wife, Priscilla Paisley are passing the duties onto their two children, and when the time comes, pass it to their children. When a grandchild receives a vision that their family is in great danger and the Wizarding War is building, they decide to flee to Middle Earth, closing the Gate to protect it from the Dark Lord. Only not everyone will make it and others will become separated from the remaining family. Their quest is to find their family, and assist a small company of dwarves in reclaiming their home.
I do not own anything from the Hobbit or Harry Potter; only the OC's and their story. All Harry Potter/Hobbit references and characters belong to J.K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Peter Jackson.
The howl made Jordan shiver. It was a mix of a growl, scream and a snarl. Whatever made it, sounded large, strong, ugly, and vicious. It was close, probably a couple hundred yards, and closing in.
Fili grabbed her hand and pulled her as he ran. "Come on!"
The sound of the awful animal alarmed everyone. Jordan rushed back to Karah, helped her to her feet and sung their bags over their shoulder and across their chests. They had their wands out and ready to defend themselves. The company was trying not to panic as they gathered their own belongings. The Durin brothers sticking close to their newest companions.
"Is that a wolf? Are there wolves out there?" Bilbo asked with alarm.
Bofur jumped to his feet, terror evident on his face. "Wovles? No, that is not a wolf."
A snap of a twig echoed in the forest and a growling erupted from behind them. It was a hideous large dog-like creature with: a head like a bat with pointy ears, sharp teeth snapping inside a short upturned snout, black evil eyes. It was grey and it appeared its fur was falling out; except for its mo-hawk along its spine. It had claws like a bear, and a short tail to help with its quick movements. The Warg jumped from the top of some rock formations and landed right in the middle of the group.
Thorin cut it down with his new sword and a second beast was about to jump over him to attack. "Kili! Your bow!"
The young dwarf wasted no time in shooting the ugly creature while in midair. Dwalin smashed his mighty hammer down, finishing the kill.
"Warg scouts." Thorin explained, pulling the blade free. "Which means an Orc pack isn't far behind."
Bilbo ran to Gandalf's side. "Orc pack?"
"Who did you tell about your quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf demanded.
"No one." Thorin answered.
"Who did you tell?" Gandalf shouted.
"No one, I swear. What in Durin's name is going on?"
"You're being hunted."
"We have to get out of here." Dwalin stressed with wide eyes.
Ori , Bifur and Gloin came running to the scene. "We can't! We have no ponies." Ori panted, out of breath. "They bolted."
Radagast's fear was melting away and turning to anger. "I'll draw them off."
Gandalf highly doubted that. "These are Gundabad Wargs. They will outrun you."
The Brown Wizard was now growing cocky. "These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try." He whistled and jumped on his sleigh as the rabbits were pulling away. "Good luck, Gandalf and friends!"
The Wargs were howling and an unrecognizable language was being shouted in the distance. Radagast started laughing and taunting the Orc pack. He broke through the forest into a clearing that was spotted with rocks and boulders.
"Come on." Gandalf commanded and lead the way. Thorin followed right behind, scanning the area in all directions.
They could see the Orcs and Wargs running ahead of them, chasing Radagast. The brown wizard was zig and zaging; tripping up his pursuers, leading them into the rocks and causing them to run into them. They were getting angrier by the second and it was obvious that if they caught him, Radagast would be dead before he hit the grown. The wizard was doing a descent job at keeping his pursuers distracted and away from the company.
Out of now where, he turned around and the only thing from keeping the Orcs from seeing the company was a huge boulder. They were chasing the wizard just on the other side of a hill when they began to run past the rock. Ori was first and Thorin pulled him back in time for the Orcs to run past, stopping Gandalf, Biblo, Karah, Jordan, and the rest of the dwarves from running past.
They waited until the coast was clear and Gandalf gave the signal. "Move out, quickly now."
"Where are you leading us?" Thorin asked impatiently.
Gandalf looked down at him and held his tongue. Now was not the time for the argument that Thorin would have wanted if they were in different circumstances. He pushed past the dwarf and followed the rest behind another rock formation. They packed close together against the boulders to keep them hidden from a single Warg and Orc. Everyone held their breaths in their lungs the best they could and not make any sudden movements or sounds.
Karah and Jordan had not run this much in ages. They were a little out of shape, but they were keeping up okay. Life or death situations have that effect. They were sandwiched between Bifur and Gloin behind them, Kili and Fili in front of them. They watched Thorin look to Kili and nod. The younger dwarf took a deep breath as he drew an arrow, placed it in his bow, and stepped out into the open and took his shot.
The warg let out a cry of anguish as it fell off the bolder and brought it's rider with it. The seasoned warriors jumped the creatures, but not before they gave away their position. Heavy stomping of the wargs running and the yelling in Black Language forced the company to abandon their hiding place. Gandalf led the way through rolling hills that was dotted with trees and bushes. It gave them a little bit of coverage, but in no time they were completely surrounded.
Each person had their own form of defense: Thorin with the Orcrist, Dwalin with his war hammer, Balin with a sword, Gloin with a long curved blade axe, Oin with a long metal staff, Dori with a thick sword, Nori with a long handled mace, Ori with is slingshot, Kili with his bow and arrows, Fili with his twin swords, Bilbo with his small sword, Gandalf with his magical staff ,Bifur and a thick bladed spear, Bofur and a mining pick and hammer, and lastly Bombur with a iron lade.
Jordan's eyes went wide at the sight of the largest dwarf with his spoon. To be fair, it was the biggest spoon she had ever seen and it was made of iron. But come on, a spoon? She wanted to transfigure it into something much better suited for fighting; however with the enemy pressing in, she decided to focus on them instead. If they lived, she would offer later.
"There's more coming!" Kili called out.
"Kili! Shoot them!" Thorin ordered.
His nephew shot arrow after arrow, making sure that each hit their mark. Karah surveyed the scene and realized the young dwarf was the only one who was able to shoot anything at a distance. She decided to help and sent the Stunning spell to the closest one. "Stupefy!"
Jordan followed her cousin's lead, but was little more creative and destructive. A group of Orcs and Wargs were near a large bolder. Reducto! It exploded into pieces and collided with the creatures. They all fell over, dead or unconscious from the blunt forces of the rocks.
The explosion drew everyone's attention for a moment. The dwarves and Bilbo were dumbstruck at the magic. Gandalf was relieved that he was right about bringing them along as he made for large bolder and many small ones around it. The Orcs recognized the power and the new comers decided to attack the witches first.
"We're surrounded!" Fili added.
"Where's Gandalf?" Dori cried.
"He's abandoned us!" Dwlain's thoughts immediately went to the worst conclusion.
With the enemy closing in, Ori shot a warg in the face. It did not do any good and the Orc riding it laughed and taunt him.
"Hold your ground!" Thorin encouraged.
More and more orcs and wargs were coming. The witches stunned them and exploded more rocks. One Orc threw a dagger at them and Karah stumbled backward, falling over. Jordan defended them both and tried to keep them back from the rest of the company. The Orc that threw the dagger was only ten feet from her. She was about to immobilize it when it stopped mid swing with its sword above its ugly head.
It seemed terrified and perplexed as it looked over her. Jordan's fear over took her and she froze. The Orc had seen and recognized her hidden mark of protection. It was completely hidden from everyone except those who were ruled under dark magic. It was a curse and blessing in order to keep her alive.
The Orc spoke in Black Language to the others, motioning to Jordan and Karah. Two of the creatures were about to capture them when an arrow pierced it's ear and went into its brain. The other had an arrow in its chest. They both fell off their wargs, leaving the first Orc alone. It looked over its shoulder and saw a third arrow coming to its face and deflected it.
While it was distracted, Karah finally jumped to her feet, pulled Jordan out of reach, and ran closer to the company. The enemy was shouting orders to one another and the company was doing their best to stay calm. The situation was becoming bleak and most of them were not sure they would survive.
"This way you fools!" Gandalf shouted to them.
Everyone turned to see the wizard's head sticking out of the middle of the bolder formation. One by one, the whole company disappeared beneath a rock formation. Apparently the witches were moving too slow. Fili pulled Jordan and Karah's arms and gave them a hard push down the tunnel into the dimly lit cave. Thorin called for his other nephew and followed him down once Kili was safe.
A horn sounded triumphantly and battle cries rang out. The wait for the vile creatures to come upon them inside the cave and the unknowing of what was happening above them was agonizing. Suddenly, an orc came rolling down into the cave and landed at their feet with a thud. The company seized their weapons ready to defend but it was motionless. Bifur used the end of his staff and poked it, confirming it was dead.
Thorin reached down and yanked free an arrow sticking out of its chest, "Elves." He stated with disgust before looking up to Gandalf and throwing the arrow to the ground.
"I can't see where the path leads!" Dwalin yelled. "Do we follow it or no?"
Bofur went in the same direction. "Follow it of course!" All of the dwarves, hobbit, and witches scurried behind.
Gandalf was at the end, with a little bit of smug satisfaction. "I think that would be wise."
The path snaked around between two cliffs and eventually led them out and looked upon the most beautiful and serene valley. The Valley of Imlardis.
"Rivendell." Bilbo stated as Karah and Jordan stood next to him, for the moment cured of their fear of death and anxieties.
"Here lies the Last Homely House East of the Sea." Gandalf explained and came to the front of the ranks.
Thorin was far from pleased. His anger at their current location over took his fear of battling Orcs and Wargs. "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge among our enemies."
Gandalf did not hid is agitation either. "You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will you find is that which you bring yourself."
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered." Gandalf was coming back with sound arguments. "If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact, respect, and no small degree of charm. Best let me do the talking."
Slowly and carefully, the grey wizard led the dwarfs, Bilbo, Karah and Jordan into the majestic and beautiful kingdom. Water falling from the cliffs and powerfully gave life to the lush green plants and flowers. The greenery decorated the meticulously cut bricks that made walls, buildings, and roads. Statues of elf guards towered over them as they entered a receiving platform.
"Mithrandir!" a tall brown haired elf descended the stairs that led to the palace above with soldiers close behind him.
Gandalf turned around, "Ah, Lindir!" They spoke in Elvish and no one in the company could understand them. Gandalf did not look too pleased or satisfied at what Lindir had told him.
Large horses trotting up behind them and a horn sounding alerted the dwarf company into battle readiness once more. Jordan, Karah, and Bilbo were pushed to the center of the circle. The elf soldiers on horseback went around them, sizing up the situation, prepared for a fight. The one leading the platoon sung off his steed and greeted Gandalf warmly in Elvish, not paying any attention to the others.
"Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders." Lord Elrond noted. "Something or someone has drawn them near."
Gandalf looked over his shoulder at the company to check to make sure they were not about to do anything rash. "That may have been us."
Thorin stepped forward and waited to be addressed, taking heed to Gandalf's earlier remarks and tried to remain respectful. The dwarves relaxed their stances and weapons.
Lord Elrond looked kindly to him "Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain."
The Dwarf King did the best he could to keep the bite out of his tone. "I don't believe we have met."
"You have your grandfather's bearing." Lord Elrond explained. "I knew Thror when he ruled Under the Mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you." The idea of charm was out the window for Thorin.
The whole audience went silent. A pin hitting the floor would have made a louder commotion. For a moment, the two monarchs stared at each other. Finally, Lord Elrond broke the silence with his native tongue. None of the dwarves knew what he spoke and they all tightened their grips on their weapons.
Kili and Fili stood directly in front of the witches, trying to block them from sight. If they were not so worried about what the dwarves were going to do, they might have been either flattered or furious. Well, Karah would have been flattered because she was humble enough to accept help. Jordan's pride often got in her way and she never liked being the damsel in distress, no matter how attractive her knight in shining armor was.
Gloin stepped forward. "What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?!"
Gandalf was becoming exasperated. "No, Master Gloin, he's offering you food."
The company except for Bilbo, Karah, and Jordan came together, speaking in Khuzdul. They talked for a moment before reaching a solid conclusion.
Gloin stepped forward again. "Well, in that case lead on."
Lord Elrond had the dining hall prepared for his guests while they washed their hands and faces. Coffee tables were brought from sitting rooms to be accommodating to the dwarves, Bilbo and the small women. The decorations, cutlery, and flatware were so elegant; they looked too fragile to eat off of. They were filled with various colorful fruits and vegetables. Soft music from harps, flutes, and other foreign string and wind instruments helped calm everyone's nerves while they waited for the kings and wizard to arrive.
Elrond emerged from his chambers dressed in more casual clothing, casual for the Elf King that is. He wore a simple gold tiara that looked like woven tree branches. A pendent of an elf knot secured his long greenish brown robes. His long brown hair half pulled back and the rest falling around his should with two braids in front of his ears.
Gandalf was as he always is in his grey robes, but with a clean face and hands. He removed his hat and left it with his staff and bag. He and Elrond were extremely long time friends and he trusted his belonging would be cared for.
Thorin also washed up for supper and removed his sky blue coat. The Orcrist was still hanging from his belt, not wanting to be without it in a stranger's home. He followed Gandalf and Elrond to a separate table on a balcony that overlooked the whole kingdom. He sat in the chair designated for him and his feet dangled above the floor.
The rest of the room was full of persons. The three coffee tables where pushed together to make one big one. The dwarves were all scattered among their friends, with Bilbo at the very end, and Jordan and Karah sitting side by side next to him. The Durin brothers sat across from them.
"Try it. Just a mouthful." Dori coxed his brother like a father would a child.
Ori shook his head, "I don't like green food."
Dwalin picked up a handful of salad from a bowl to look under the leaves. "Where's the meat?"
Oin forked an onion and glared at it in confusion. When he finally heard the music, he stuffed a napkin into his hearing aid to muffle the sound. He and the rest of his table laughed at his actions.
"Have they got any chips?" Ori asked brightly.
Karah and Jordan were trying hard to keep their manners in check. They had not eaten in nearly three days. They did not care what was offered as long as it was eatable. It was even more difficult to maintain their manners since the dwarves did not appear to have any at all. For the most part, they ignored everyone around them, purposely ignoring the brothers across from them as they filled their stomachs.
As the elves served the company more food and drink, three more elves entered the hall and sat with Lord Elrond. It had been years since Ruben and Priscilla's party, but they had not changed at all. The twin princes Elladan and Elrohhir, and their younger sister Arwen listened to the discussion between their father and guests.
"Jordan, looked over there." Karah saw the royal elves enter out of the corner of her eye. She tilted her head to signal to the head table.
Jordan looked up from her plate and stilled. Is that-, Jordan signed and smiled at the recognition. No way!
"I know! I didn't think we would ever see them again." Karah was astonished. "I guess Middle Earth is smaller than we thought."
At that moment, the elves in question looked over at their end of the table. It was well known that elves had impeccable hearing and sight. They must have heard what Karah said and were trying to place them as well.
"Do you know them?" Kili asked politely as he could. In the one day that the witches had spent with them, he was developing a bit of an attachment to Karah. The idea that she knew elves personally was appalling to him.
"In a way," Karah explained. "They were at our grandparents' party a long time ago."
Fili looked to his brother than back to the women. "Have you been to Middle Earth before?"
Jordan nodded and Karah translated for her. Yes, multiple times. Our grandparents live in Lake Town.
"Where are you from?" Bilbo asked.
Karah re-explained their story to the rest of the dwarves and Bilo. There was not much time to fill them in earlier that day due to the Orc chase. Once everyone's questions were answered, the company let them finish their meals. Well, one dwarf did not.
Bifur waited for Jordan to look up and grunted at her to get her attention. He started signing, asking her why she does speak with her voice. She smiled at him, and signed back her answer. His face dropped in sadness.
Who would curse a child? He asked.
A bad man. She answered carefully. Since he asked her, she decided to ask him. Why can't you speak with your voice?
I was battling an Orc. Bifur explained vaguely and pointed to the axe. I'm hoping to give it back someday.
Their end of the table sat back quietly and watched. Fili was taking metal notes of the conversation. He decided that he would ask Bifur for private lessons to help him with his signing. It was clear that Jordan was becoming more comfortable around Bifur and he hoped that the older dwarf was not developing an interest in her like Fili.
Kili tried to keep Karah's attention, but she was focused on her memories with the Elf siblings. He smiled at her while she smiled to herself.
At the head table while everyone ate, The Orcrst was in Elronds hands as he examined it, praising its history as the Goblin Cleaver and might in battle against the Goblins. He handed it back to Thorin with a blessing to keep it safe and use it well. Next, Gandalf handed him his sword, Glamdring. It belonged to the king of Gondolin, the Foe-hammer.
"How did you come by these?" Lord Elrod asked, astonished at the legendary sword.
"We found them in a troll hoard." Gandalf explained.
"Is that all you found?" Lord Elrond scanned the dwarves, hobbit, and the women. His eyes landed on Jordan. They watched each other for a moment. Elrond sensed that there was something dark about the woman the moment he returned home, but he could not figure it out. She did not appear to be one who drabbled in dark magic and he doubted she would even have an interest. He watched as a she-elf filled the women's cups with wine.
"No," Gandalf sighed and drew the Elf King's attention back to him.
"It seems strange for dwarves to willingly travel with a Halfling, even stranger to have two women of the race of Men among them. How did they join your company?"
"We rescued them from the troll hoard as well. The beasts planned to eat them but found a few of our horses, then the dwarves themselves. The morning light saved them, and we found the young lady witches locked in a cage inside the cave. They were separated from their family and we are taking them along with us to Lake Town. It is rumored that the Gatekeeper and his wife settled there."
"Yes, to keep an eye on the Lonely Mountain. Are the young women in relation to them?"
"Yes, they are granddaughters and both are wand-carriers like Priscilla."
"That's why they seem so familiar. They have grown up." Elrond looked fondly unto the women. That was the clue his children needed.
"Father, are they the children from the party the Gatekeeper had?" Arwen asked. She did not need to ask but wanted clarification. She remembered the little girls because all the children followed her around and begged her and her brothers to play with them.
"Yes. There is something strange about one of them." Elrond pointed out. Gandalf and Thorin knew exactly what he was referring too.
Thorin cleared his throat and spoke carefully so only those at the table could hear. He did not wish to give away secrets, but if the witches put his quest in jeopardy, that would be a big problem. "Jordan was cursed as a child. She cannot speak, but she can hear."
"I see." Elrond focused his attention back to his guests he sat with. "You all are welcome to stay as long as you need. But may I ask where the troll hoard was?"
Gandalf sat up straight in his chair and cleared his throat of food. "Along the Great East Road. And actually, my Lord Elrond, we are in need of your help."
"Change the tune, don't you? I feel like I'm at a funeral!" Nori stuck his fingers in his ears. The rest of the company was also growing annoyed at the soft music, demanding that they change it. Their comments were pretty rude and blunt.
Bofur finally decided to do something about it. He leapt from his seat and climbed onto the table and began to sing. "There's an inn, there's an inn, a merry old inn, beneath an old grey hill. And there they brew a beer so brown, the Man on the Moon, himself came down, one night to drink his fill. The ostler has a tipsy cat, that plays a five-stringed fiddle; and up and down he saws his bow a squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle. So the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle, a jig that would wake the dead; he squaked and sawed and quickened the tune. While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon; 'it's after three!' he said."
All the dwarves cheered and started throwing food in their merriment when the song ended. The elves looked positively appalled. Bilbo just shook his head, already aware of their behavior. Jordan and Karah were surprised at their childlike nature.
Fili and Kili were part of the food throwing and some of it hit the women across from them. The shock on their faces froze the dwarves exactly as they were, waiting to see what would happen. Karah was pulling food from her hair, and Jordan picked off a glob of white something from her shoulder. Karah wanted to reprimand them, but Jordan cut her off by throwing the food back at Fili, hitting him in the face. The food fight continued and Karah gave up, and even threw some of it back Kili. Laughter was erupting from the whole company and for the time being, the tension was gone.