Chapter III


Maryse's POV

There I sat that night in the middle of Fili and Kili as the meeting went on SLOWLY. Like the one I saw in the movie, Thorin sat at the head of the table and discussed with the rest of the company about taking the lonely mountain- Erebor back from this so called dragon, Smaug. But other than that, I never really paid that much attention to what they're talking about. For my head is filled with questions, questions that I am so desperate to ask Gandalf about. But I thought that if I shall ask him those questions now, I might disturb Thorin and anger him, again- we don't want that now don't we?

I let out a weary sigh as I rested my head on my hand.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when suddenly Gandalf produces a key from his sleeve. Oh wow who knew that he has a sleeve-pocket. "It was given to me by your father for safekeeping, it is yours now." He told Thorin.

Speaking of Thorin, I looked at him and saw his jaw clench and his eyes getting teary upon being told by Gandalf of his father. Oh well just get a hold of that, it seems like I found a weakness to Mister Thorin Oakenshield. I snickered.

"If there's a key, there must be a door!" Fili exclaimed.

No shit Sherlock! I rolled my eyes.

After Fili's comment, the discussion went about what they must do to go after their long lost treasure beneath the mountain as the map was revealed.

Oh wow! I have an exact replica of this map in my room but this is just! OMYGOD! This is far more beautiful than that! My inner fangirl stirred inside me.


"That is why we need a burglar."Gandalf professed as he glanced at Bilbo, and little did poor Bilbo know that it was him that Gandalf was talking about.

"A burglar? You don't mean to tell us that Mister Baggins here is our burglar is he Gandalf?" Dwalin asked.

"He's hardly burglar material!" The dwarves observe as they regard him doubtfully, and Mister Bilbo here happily agreed.

Thus began the loud commotion among the dwarves about Bilbo not being this 'burglar material' and whether he's actually fit for the job.

Gandalf then rose to his full height "If I say Bilbo is our burglar, then he is!" His deep voice boomed. Maryse flinched, looked around her and saw the dwarves all staring at Gandalf half shocked and half scared. Even Fili and Kili beside Maryse suddenly became quiet like the others.


Maryse's POV

"Very well then we'll have it your way." Thorin broke the silence.

Upon Gandalf calming down, the dwarves turned and looked at me.

"What?" I muttered.

"Well, what about you lad? If we're having Mister Boggins here as good as our burglar what shall you be good as?" Fili asked from beside me.

"It's Baggins" I heard Bilbo

I gulped. OH NO NOT THIS BLOODY TOPIC AGAIN! I glanced shyly at Thorin as I remembered to what happened earlier between me and him.

"Well?" Thorin said as he was glaring at me. His face with an expression of half annoyance and displeasure. WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ANGRY AT ME?! DID I DO SOMETHING TO YOU?! I wanted to shout at him.

I felt my anger rising, I stood up abruptly, faced Thorin and when I was about to open my mouth to shout at Thorin, Gandalf spoke up.

"He knows how to cook and-" He was cut off by Thorin when also stood up, his palm hit the table.

"And what weapon are you good at then?" He suddenly asked as our eyes met. He quirked an eyebrow as if mocking me while cocking his head to the side.

OH I WON'T LET YOU EMBARRASS ME AGAIN THIS TIME MISTER!

"Urhmm, Thorin, Markus please calm yourselves." I heard the worried tone of Balin's voice.

"NO!" I snapped at him. "I can't afford having this big hairy bear insult and mock me about being useless again!" I barked as I glared at Thorin with his glaring back at me.

I heard a couple of dwarves snicker.

"I am not a bear! Well aren't you useless and weak and small?" He spat back mockingly while he leaned forward.

Fuming, I clenched my fists into a ball until my knuckles started to turn white. I glanced behind me and saw Fili and Kili's faces plastered with amusement and worry. I looked down at Fili's belt and saw a dagger I quickly got a hold of it and

THUG

I planted the dagger an inch beside Thorin's palm earning gasps from the whole company. I smirked, I looked at him flinch.

"Like I told you, you big hairy furball, I AM NOT USELESS!" My voice rose.

"Woah! Calm down lad" I heard the two from behind me as I felt their hands on both sides of my shoulders pulling me down into the chair.

I took a deep breath while I calmed down and looked around me. I saw Gandalf smiling while smoking from his pipe, some of the dwarves look shocked and while some of them grinning. I looked up and saw Thorin still in place, his hand beside the silver dagger. But there is one thing, his lips quirked up a little bit from the corner.

HE'S SMILING?! WHAT THE HECK?! I ACTUALLY EXPECTED HIM TO GET MAD AND SHOUT BUT, HE SMILED?! Talk about creepy. I freaked out inside.

"Give them the contracts." He said and sat down after, my gaze following him.

"Hmm, it seems that Mister Markus here knows how to handle daggers then." Bofur quipped.

What?! Daggers?! I don't even know how to hold a kitchen knife properly. And I didn't know that I could do such a thing. I thought

Balin handed pulled out two pieces of folded paper. He gave one each to Bilbo and me.

"Thanks" I mumbled

I just placed mine on top of the table not even bothering to unfold it. I sighed

"What's wrong Markus?" Kili asked.

"I still don't know if I want to join you guys." I said smiling sadly.

I saw in the corner of my eyes Thorin, I looked at him and saw him looking back at me and our eyes met. I shook my head and turned back to look at Bilbo reading his own contract.

"-Lacerations" I overheard him and saw his hands slightly shaking while holding the contract in his hands "Incinerations?" He squeaked, his face slowly becoming pale and turning into horror.

I giggled as I crossed my legs and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Oh yes!" Bofur said.

"Think about furnace! With Wings!" He added.

I tried to stifle a laughter while Bofur continued on to scare Bilbo telling him about dying quickly and not being able to feel a thing if he gets burned up by the dragon's fire.

Observing Bilbo, I saw him turn paler and paler until he fainted into the ground.

THUNK

I stood up and rushed beside him and Gandalf.

The dwarves all laughed out loud. I looked up to Bofur and raised an eyebrow.

"I was just trying to make him feel better!" Then all of the dwarves laughed louder.

"Well, you did a good job with it!" I added, and laughed along with the dwarves.


After the meeting, Dwalin carried poor little unconscious Bilbo into his room and placed him on his bed. Maryse and the rest of the company went to the living room, with the exception of Thorin and Gandalf for they isolated themselves and talked more about some important things.

Maryse sat down on the armchair in front of the fireplace and tucked her knees into her chest; wrapping her arms around her knees for she was starting to feel cold.

So, Maryse just sat down there staring at the fires in deep thoughts, little did she know that behind her, the dwarves were just talking about her.

"It seems that the lad is cold" Fili told the dwarves while smoking from their own pipes.

"He's a weird dwarf." Bifur said.

"I wonder where he came from, I mean I've never seen him back from home before." Kili said

"Just look at him, he's thinner, smaller and looks kinda feminine don't ya think lads?" Bofur said

And they all agreed.


Maryse's POV

I feel so fucking cold! And even the fire's not helping! I thought while rubbing my upper arms.

I started to miss my friends, and wondered if they're even still alive and kickin'. I know Gandalf told me that they're okay and safe, but what if he's just telling me that. What if they're eaten and killed by orcs! I-I can't have afford to have them die! They're the only family I have along with my brothers! My eyes started to well up tears when suddenly I felt something heavy, fuzzy and warm on me.

"Here's a coat so that you won't be cold."

I looked up and saw Balin, Fili, Bofur and Kili in front of me smiling, Fili holding a pair of boots in his hands.

"Here you go! Since we noticed that you're bare footed." Fili said

I blushed and took the pair before putting it down on the floor beside the armchair.

"Thanks" I mumbled

"Are you crying?" Kili asked.

"Oh wow, you really are quite girly for a lad" Bofur added.

"What? No!" I said quickly and rushed to wipe my tears with my sleeve.

"Oh c'mon, why are you crying?" As they sat in front of me.

"I-I just miss my home, and friends." I muttered.

"Aww, it's okay, I and Fili too sometimes miss my mother" He reassured me.

"If you want, you could talk about your friends and we'll listen" Balin said, then the three just smiled and agreed to Balin's idea.

I smiled warmly at them as I snuggled into the coat more. I wondered whose coat is this. I thought. It smelled musky and has this forest like smell. But I shrugged the thought off. As long as it keeps me warm and snugly. I yawned.

So as the night went on and I told them about my friends- Elinor, Elise, and Crista.


While Maryse was telling the four dwarves in front of her about her friends, one by one, the dwarves started to sit down around her and listened as if she were their mother telling them a fairy tale.

Maryse didn't notice that along the way of telling the dwarves of the story, she fell asleep.

"Aye, just look at him, falling asleep just like that, and he still hasn't finished telling us about Elise!" Bofur quipped, all of them agreed.

"And don't you think he has too much girl friends?" Bifur pointed out, and again all of them agreed.

They all stood up and went along with their own groups and started talking in hushed tones.

But Fili, Balin, Bofur and Kili stayed on the floor beside Maryse.

"I hope she joins us tomorrow when we leave for the quest." Bofur said before standing up to join the other dwarves.

"Aye, I hope so too." Balin added and followed Bofur suit.

Finally only the two were left on the floor.

"Aye." Both of them muttered before taking smoking from each of their own pipes.


Thorin's POV

After I talked to Gandalf, both of us went to the living room. There I saw the whole company there. I looked around and found my nephews sitting on the floor beside an armchair. I walked towards them. I saw on the chair a sleeping form of Markus, I couldn't help but notice the coat wrapped around him. That's my coat.

I looked down and gave one of my nephews a questionable look.

"Why is he wearing my coat?" I asked raising an eyebrow in annoyance

But they just sat there and grinned at me like fools.

As I was about to take my coat from her "Thorin" I heard behind me as I felt a hand on my shoulder. Balin, I thought.

"Yes?" I asked

"Just let the lad borrow it at the moment." He said

I looked at Balin for a moment before I grunted and walked away towards the front of the fireplace and took out my pipe.

After some while, I saw Bilbo walked in the living room.

"Would you like me to put out some light?" I heard him ask.

"It's okay, we like the dark."I assured him and heard the company agree.

Bilbo nodded before walking away

I inhaled from the pipe and upon blowing out, I began to sing.

"Far over the misty mountains cold..."

Maryse's POV

Far over the misty mountains cold.
To dungeons deep, and caverns old.

I didn't notice that I already fell asleep; I only realized that when I was woken up by some people singing in such deep and well blended voice. I opened my eyes groggily and saw Thorin in front of the fireplace smoking from his pipe. The light from the fire illuminated the dark living room and some of its light reached Thorin's face. I tried to sit up but tiredness and the sleepiness is overpowering me. So I just stayed lying on the armchair. I tried to fight it and looked at Thorin. He looks so majestic and godly as he was singing with the dwarves.

We must away,'ere break of day.
To find our long forgotten gold.
The pines were roaring on the height.

So he continued singing and our gaze met. I felt drowsy, sleepy, and tired. But, I tried to fight it. And Thorin's eyes were full of sadness, determination and slight of happiness.

The winds were moaning in the night.
The fire was red, it flaming spread.
The trees like torches blazed with light.

As the song finished I smiled at him. And I couldn't fight the sleepiness anymore, I swear that before I closed my eyes, I saw him- Thorin smile back at me.

Thorin's POV

I continued to look at the sleeping form on the chair, my coat- too big, swarmed around his little fragile-like frame, the fur collar tucked under his chin, his long braid hanging down from the side of the armchair. I felt a slight anger and jealousy towards that piece of braided hair, as if I want to cut it with my sword and throw it away.

I took a deep breath from the pipe to calm myself down and leaned on the side of the fireplace.

As I continue to sing I saw the boy stir from his sleep. I can't help but look at him, stare at him. His eyes cracked open into half lids. I looked at his face half illuminated from the fire. I observed him, and our gaze met. I couldn't seem to tear away from his beautiful blue-grey eyes. I saw him attempt to sit up and fighting to stay awake.

"The trees like torches blazed with light..." After we finished singing I saw the boy smile before finally closing his eyes drifting to sleep. I couldn't help but smile back at him. I've never seen someone as beautiful as him.

I froze. Why, why in Durin's name would I find a boy beautiful?! I groaned as I rubbed my face with my palm. Maybe it's because he's just, Oh Aule! I don't know.

I wanted to hit myself for thinking that. Sighing in defeat, I just took a deep smoke from my pipe.


After the song, the dwarves couldn't help but notice their king-slash-leader-Thorin staring at the young boy and a smile on his face. And then they heard him groan while inhaling from his pipe furiously.

They all gave each other confused glances.

"What's happenin' to uncle Fili?" Kili asked his brother beside him.

"I don't know brother." Fili replied.

But Balin knew Thorin his whole life, he knew what that look meant, he knew the moment that Thorin smiled and the way he looked at the young lad, that the king has fallen in love.

Balin grinned.

"What?" Bofur asked Balin who's beside him.

"It's Thorin." He replied.

"Oh so you know what's wrong with him?" Oin asked

"Aye." Balin said and walked away to prepare himself for bed.

"What?" Fili and Kili asked at the same time.

Balin stopped on his tracks and looked behind him "Oh you'll see." He told them grinning and continued to walk away.

The rest of dwarves just stared at Balin's retreating back, all of them dumbfounded and silent. Gandalf walked in and broke the silence.

Gandalf walked towards where Thorin's standing "Hmm, it seems that Markus has fallen asleep." He said looking at the sleeping form of Maryse on the armchair.

He turned to face Thorin "And with your coat keeping him warm." He added sounding amused, and Thorin just glared back at Gandalf.

"I know and I wasn't the one who lent him my coat." Thorin replied bitterly as he glared at Balin.

"Oh c'mon now uncle, don't be mad, Markus here was freezing earlier." Kili said putting an arm around Thorin.

Thorin twitched.

"And just a while ago we saw that you were staring at the young lad." Fili grinned and the dwarves laughed with Gandalf.

"What?" Thorin's head snapped towards Fili's direction.

"Aye! You even smiled!" Bofur exclaimed as all of the dwarves agreed.

Thorin turned red and glared daggers at all of them. "N-no I was not!" He barked, yet his voice faltered. The dwarves just laughed out louder. Thorin just turned his back among them and stomped away only stopping for a minute to tell them to prepare to go to sleep for they shall start tomorrow early morning and started to walk away again to get ready for bed himself.

"Aye lads, let's head off to bed." Bombur said and all of them agreed as they all prepared their bedrolls on the living room floor with Fili and Kili beside Maryse's armchair and all slept peacefully, even Bilbo as he slept in his own room. With the exception of Gandalf, who's just outside the hole sitting on the chair beside the door breathing out smoke rings.


Elrond's POV

I sat here in the library going through some papers on my desk while I heard loud rushing footsteps just on the other side of the door. I ignored it for a while as I went back to the papers, but then suddenly the footsteps got louder and louder, then someone just busted into the room not even bothering to knock. I looked up and saw two of my guards in front of me looking flustered and red.

"Lord Elrond, it's urgent."

I stood up abruptly and looked at them "What is it?"

"It seems that Lady Arwen found three girls just outside our forest area."

"Three girls?!" I exclaimed at both of them


So that's chapter three! I AM SO SORRY for not being able to update as soon as possible! Now you know what happened to Elise and the rest~ I hope u enjoyed! I think I shall write the next chapter all about Crista, Elise and Elinor :) R&R!