Melawen awoke with a start. It was another nightmare. Stretching out her arms, Melawen got up from the chair from which she slept in. She noticed that the other dwarves were up, and getting ready to leave. She made her way outside, and readied her pony. She was then approached by one of the dwarves, who didn't look like a dwarf with his lack of beard. She believed his name to be Kili.
"Ah. You're awake," he said, smiling at her. "Good. Was afraid one of us would have to wake you."
"No need for that, Master Kili," Melawen said, returning the smile. "I am quite use to waking up early. My father would have us up by dawn almost every day. We would train first, then hunt, then eat. And we would travel."
"So your father is a warrior then?"
"Yes. He was."
"Was? Does he no longer fight? Age caught up with him, I bet," Kili stated, jokingly.
"No. Not really. He...he's dead, Master Kili."
"Oh. I'm so sorry. I did not mean to."
"It is quite alright, Master Kili. No harm done," she said as she finished tightening her saddle. "He taught me everything he knew. From an axe to a sword to daggers."
"Just call me Kili, Lady Melawen."
"And just call me Melawen then," she said, smiling at him. "I am no lady. My father always said I am more dwarf than elf. Clearly last night proved it during supper when all of you were dead silent before laughing."
"Ah ha! You are quite right there! Was not expecting a dwarrowdam in our company, but you are most welcome. You fit right in just fine. Although, uncle seems to have thought otherwise."
"Uncle? You are Thorin's nephew?" she asked.
"Yes. Why, my brother Fili and I are next in line for the throne after him. He is our mother's brother," he stated. "Although, mother was very against us going with him to take back our home."
"I wonder why."
"But, is such a quest such a grand adventure? I mean, how many dwarves can say that they helped reclaim the kingdom of Erebor from a dragon! There was no way my brother and I were missing this! It took a while to convince mother, but it was also our uncle that needed persuading."
"I'm sure he wasn't pleased either with dealing with mother and her complaints. But, he swore to her that we would be looked after, and that we won't get into too much trouble."
"Ha! If that sort of statement was made, I highly doubt you and Fili will stay out of trouble then!" Melawen said with a small laugh.
"And what makes you say that?" Kili asked.
"Because I said the same thing to my father many times, and I got myself into so much trouble with my recklessness! I always countered that I got it from him!"
Kili couldn't help but just laugh with her. It was a nice feeling to hear that another dwarf wouldn't scold him for his recklessness, but would most likely help cause trouble. Kili definitely sees more dwarf in her than elf despite the ears. Hearing them laugh, Fili walked up to them.
"What's so funny this early?" he asked.
"Melawen here seems to be more dwarf than elf," Kili stated. "Apparently, she too has a knack for trouble."
"Is that so?"
"Aye. My father would always scold me about my recklessness," Melawen stated. "Not my fault that I took after him."
"Well then, you'll fit just right in," Fili stated, smiling at her. "At least with my brother and I. Not so sure if uncle would approve of a third troublemaker."
"Fili! Kili! Make sure everything is set and ready! We are leaving soon."
All eyes turned to Thorin, who had a stern look on his. Melawen's smile faded, and Fili and Kili left. She gave a slight nod to him, and untied her pony's reigns. Without saying another word, Thorin went back to the rest of the company.
"This should be an interesting journey," she whispered to her animal companion.
And then they were off. A wizard, thirteen dwarves, and a dwelf. Thus began their quest to take down Smaug, and reclaim the lost dwarf kingdom of Erebor. Melawen rode at the end of the line, but she was kept company with Fili and Kili. The two dwarf princes were intrigued by her, and wanted to know more about her. Thorin kept turning his head back at them, wondering what they were talking about. But, he was still not pleased with having an elf on this quest, let alone a woman. But, he just had to keep telling himself that she is only part elf, and that she is also a dwarrowdam. It was going to be a while for him to look past her ears. Everything else but the ears were that of a dwarf.
"Melawen. What is your weapon of choice?" asked Fili.
"It would be my mother's daggers. My father gave them to me when I became of age. My father taught me how to wield an axe before then, but since then, I've much preferred my mother's daggers. He also did teach me how to use a sword just in case. This sword is actually his."
"Wait, so you received your weapons when you were 30?" asked Kili. "When were you born again?"
"About a year and a half after Smaug laid waste to Erebor," Melawen stated.
"You're kidding?" said Fili. "You don't look that old at all! I find that hard to believe!"
"Probably the elf blood in me," she simply stated. "My father always said that I look like my mother."
"What was she like? Your mother," said Kili.
"Aside from being beautiful, father always said she was a kind person. Stubborn as well, but was always thinking of others before her own. What I said last night was true. King Thranduil didn't like that my mother disobeyed him. She was banished from her home after bringing my father there to heal him. She was there when the elves arrived during the attack, and she charged down the mountain to look for survivors. She didn't care that she was banished. She wasn't going to stand aside and do nothing when someone needed help."
"Your mother was the only elf that helped at least one of our people," said Fili. "I'm sure uncle will take that into consideration. He's hated all elves since that day."
"I can understand his hate," Melawen said. "I mean, not really for all elves part. But, I do understand hating the elves and their king for not helping them the day they needed help. The day they were asked of help but didn't."
"What about your mother? What would she think?" asked Kili.
"I don't know. My mother-"
"Wait! Wait!"
Everyone came to a halt when they heard someone yelling at them. Melawen couldn't help but smile when she saw the Hobbit running towards them, with a long piece of paper in his hand. Finally able to catch up to everyone, Bilbo handed the piece of paper to Balin.
"I signed it!" Bilbo said happily.
Balin looks over the contract, and then smiles at Bilbo.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
Everyone but Melawen, Thorin and Gandalf cheered. But, Thorin wasn't really happy that Bilbo had decided to join their company.
"Give him a pony," Thorin said.
Bilbo started to protest, much preferring to walk instead of riding a pony. But, his protests were ignored when Bofur and Nori lifted Bilbo up and sat him on top of a pony. Gandalf decided to ride next to Bilbo, who was not relaxed at all while holding the reigns. Melawen, who was riding behind Bilbo, called out to him, and he looked back.
"Just relax, Bilbo," she said, smiling softly at him. "Just trust your pony. As long as you trust him, he won't let you fall off."
"I am relaxed," he said, even though he clearly wasn't.
Melawen's ears then twitched when she heard Oin talking to Nori. Something about paying up. She then watched as sacks of money were being tossed from one dwarf to another. Bilbo looked to Gandalf, asking what was going on. According to Gandalf, Melawen heard, the dwarves took bets on whether Bilbo would show up or not. Most of them had bet that he wouldn't show. When Bilbo asked what Gandalf thought, he caught a sack of money that was tossed at him, and put it in his bag.
"My dear fellow, I never doubted you for a second," he said, smiling at the young Hobbit.
Melawen let out a small laugh.
"And why wasn't I told of such wager?" she asked the brothers. "My money not good enough, or were some people not wanting to lose money to a dwarrowdam?"
"Oh. It's nothing to do with that," Kili started, stuttering a bit on his words.
"Relax. I'm just joking," she said. "But, next time there is a wager, please let me know."
"You really are mostly dwarf, Melawen," said Fili.
"Like I said, I take after my father, mostly."
"Speaking of, does your father approve of this? I mean, with you being on this quest? I mean, since he is from Erebor and all. And you know of Smaug as well," asked Fili.
"Fili," Kili started.
"No. It's okay. Actually, Fili, my father was suppose to be on this quest as well. Gandalf had asked both of us to join. Neither one of us knew what the quest was. He, unfortunately, has died."
"Oh. I'm so sorry, Melawen. I didn't mean to."
"It's okay. I didn't really say it last night during my outburst," she said. "I'm sure he wouldn't approve of me fighting a dragon. But, I promised him that I would see this quest through. And after learning it was to help reclaim his home, well...I couldn't exactly say no. My father has dreamnt of seeing Erebor again for so long. I'm not just doing this quest for you and the rest of the company. I'm also doing this for my father."
Fili and Kili couldn't help but smile at Melawen's last statement. They had only just met, and they were already enjoying her company. Melawen was also enjoying their company. She thought she would be ignored and not spoken to, but Fili and Kili were the first ones to approach her. They were the youngest in the company, but it was nice though. She hoped the others would come around as well, especially Thorin.
"No, no, wait, wait, stop! Stop! We have to turn around!"
Melawen looked over to Bilbo, and the rest of the company stopped.
"What on earth is the matter?" asked Gandalf.
"I forgot my handkerchief."
Bofur then tears a strip of cloth of his clothing and tosses it over to Bilbo.
"Here! Use this."
Bilbo catches it, a bit disgusted. The dwarves laugh, and Thorin orders everyone to move on.
"You'll have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end," said Gandalf. "You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead."
"He's right, Bilbo," said Melawen. "You are no longer home. The comforts of home are all behind you. You will have to manage with what you have on you, and what is around you. But, there are parts of Middle Earth that are just as beautiful as the Shire."
The company of thirteen dwarves, a dwelf, a wizard, and a Hobbit traveled a long way from where they started in Bag End. They didn't stop traveling until the sun had started to set. Fili and Kili were sent to hunt for food, while Bombur and Bofur set up the fire. Balin had tied up the ponies, and Thorin and Dwalin were keeping watching while everyone else started to settle for the night. Melawen looked around, helping gather firewood. She only smiled at Bombur and Bofur when she handed them the wood, and they smiled in return.
"How long do you think until we reach Erebor?" she asked them.
"Hmmm...Depends if we run into any trouble along the way, lass," said Bofur.
"I do hope it doesn't take too long," she said. "Kinda excited really. I've always wanted to see it."
"You will soon," said Bofur. "And you will love it. Once we reclaim it, are you going to stay?"
"Hm?"
"In Erebor, I mean. Are you going to stay in Erebor?"
"Oh. Um. I...I don't know," Melawen said. "I never really thought that far ahead."
"You should stay, lass," Bofur said, smiling at her. "There is no place like Erebor. Once you see it, you'll want to live there."
Thorin overhead the conversation, and looked over to Melawen. He noticed that even though she smiled, her eyes said something else differently. Melawen never really did think that far ahead. She hasn't even considered staying in Erebor once Smaug was defeated. Now that she was asked, she wasn't sure if she should. She was half elf, and she wasn't sure if she would be welcomed. She knows of Thorin's hatred for elves, and she could only imagine that there are others who share the same hate towards them. Melawen only thought of helping reclaim Erebor, and then going back out into the world with no thought of staying in the dwarf kingdom.
"You okay there, Melawen?" asked Bofur.
Letting go of all thoughts of the future, Melawen just smiled and nodded her head.
"Sorry about that," she said. "I do look forward to seeing Erebor. Truly. It will be nice to see where my father came from."
Before Bofur could ask any more questions, Fili and Kili had arrived with tonight's meat. Bombur went straight to work on cooking tonight's dinner. Melawen went to the edge of the camp, staying near Bilbo. She set up her bed mat, and took out her mother's daggers. Bilbo looked over, curious about her weapons. She unsheathed one, going over the blade. Bilbo took a big gulp, and spoke up.
"Those are beautiful," he said to her.
"Thank you, Master Baggins," she said, smiling softly at him. "They were my mother's. My father gave them to me when I became of age. Ready to learn how to fight."
Fili and Kili took notice of Melawen's dagger, and came over as well.
"So that is an elvish weapon," said Kili. "I prefer using my bow and arrow."
"You're probably the only dwarf I know that prefers that kind of weapon," she said, handing it over to Kili. "Be careful. I sharpened the blades not that long ago."
"I sometimes think he is part elf," said Fili. "I mean, no dwarf can handle a bow and arrow as good as he does."
"I am full dwarf, through and through," said Kili. "And I will challenge any elf with a bow and arrow and see who is the best."
"Be careful what you wish for, Kili," said Melawen.
"Oh? Don't think I can best an elf at archery?"
"Oh no. I do believe you can," she said. "Just don't get cocky."
"It's too late for that, Melawen," said Fili.
Melawen only smiled as Kili handed back her dagger. The brothers were then called to watch the ponies, and they left Melawen with Bilbo. She looked at him, who had a serious look on his face.
"Are you okay, Bilbo?" she asked.
"Oh yeah. Yeah. I'm fine."
"You've never held a weapon before, have you?"
Bilbo didn't say anything, which said more than enough for Melawen.
"We don't know what lies ahead, Bilbo," she told him. "But, I do hope you never have to come to holding one. Once you swing your first weapon in battle, you won't be the same."