Chapter Two
Bilbo answered the door, and there stood a dwarf with long raven hair with silver streaks, and dressed in a cloak, dark blue tunic, and silver chain mail. Mira gasped looking up on the dwarf. This must be Thorin! Well he's more handsome in real life than in the movies! Mira thought to herself as she watched Thorin entering Bilbo's home. "You said this place was easy to find! I lost my way-twice!" said Thorin as he removed his cloak, and then his coat, handing them over to Kili.
"Didn't you see the mark I left on the door?" asked Gandalf. "What mark? Of course there isn't a mark, I had the door painted weeks ago!" snapped Bilbo. Gandalf soon stood by Bilbo. "Bilbo, allow me to introduce you to the leader of the Company, Thorin Oakenshield!" said Gandalf. "So! This is a hobbit! Do you have any skills in fighting? Weapon of choice! Axe or sword?" asked the dwarf, as he circled around Bilbo. "Well, I have some skills in conkers, but I'm afraid that it's irrelevant." said Bilbo. "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer, than a burglar!" smirked Thorin, and there was soft laughter coming from the other dwarves.
Soon as Thorin was to turn around and enter the dining room, his eyes turned upon Mira, Amy and Jackson. "Gandalf, you failed to mention that Mister Baggins had a family! Who are these people?" snarled Thorin. Gandalf smiled. "Thorin, this is Mira Van Buren, and her children, Jackson and Amy. They also will be joining us on your quest." said Gandalf. "Gandalf, of all things! First a hobbit, and now a human woman and her children! No, they will not be coming with us!" barked Thorin, angrily.
Mira could feel anger rising in her. "Thorin, she is wearing a magical amulet, that was sent to her by the Valar. You must take her with you." Gandalf insisted. Thorin took notice of the necklace Mira is wearing. "Is this true?" asked Thorin. "Yes, its true." said Mira firmly. "She will come, but her children will be staying behind." snapped Thorin. "WHAT? Hell no! If they're not coming, I WON'T GO!" shouted Mira, angrily. "Then you won't go! Besides that, you will only be a distraction and slow us down! And second of…all!" began Thorin. "By god, if you're going to say because I'm a woman, I swear I'll slap you!" snarled Mira.
"You wouldn't dare to slap a king!" snapped Thorin.
Suddenly, Mira threw back her hand as she prepared to strike the dwarf, when Gandalf gently held her back, keeping her from doing so. "Calm your temper, Mira." said Gandalf softly. "No! I cannot calm my temper! You all don't understand the hell we had to go through! First my business closes down, we lose our home, and now we're stuck here with a sexiest ass hole who looks dead on like my late husband!" screamed Mira, and she bolted out of the room, and went outside Bilbo's home, slamming the door behind her.
Thorin stood frozen as he watched Mira left. "Thorin, we will talk about this more in the dining room. I will tell you the Van Buren's story." said Gandalf. And so they entered the dining room, and they begin their meeting. "Where did mom go?" asked Amy. "Mister thinks he's better than anyone angered mom!" grumbled Jackson. "You mean Thorin?" said Amy. "Yes, Thorin. If I was a little older, I punch him in the nose." snarled Jackson. "I don't think you would want to do that, kid." said Bofur, smiling.
"He just made my mother cry!" shouted Jackson. "Laddie, he never meant to make her cry. Things will work out." said Balin gently. "No it won't. We'll be stuck without a home, with no where to go because Thorin won't let us go with you guys." said Jackson.
The boy stood up and angrily left the dining room. "Gandalf, why didn't you tell us, the three of them are homeless?" asked Balin. "I was going to tell all of you this sooner." said Gandalf. "Wouldn't you mind telling us now before we start the meeting?" grumbled Thorin. Gandalf sighed. "Very well, I will tell you." said Gandalf. And Gandalf told the Van Buren's story to the Dwarves, including the part of Aaron's death.
When the wizard concluded the story, the faces of the Company saddened, as they pitied the family, and as for Thorin, he felt guilty for the harsh words he had spoken about them. "I will talk with Miss Van Buren after the meeting." said Thorin softly. And so their meeting began, and it caused Amy to feel bored. She took out her note book and pencils from her bag, and she decided to draw. One of the dwarves took notice as Amy began drawing the Company. "I didn't know you like to draw, Miss Amy!" said a voice beside her. Amy turned, and she saw Ori smiling at her.
"I love drawing. Some day I want to become a professional artist." said Amy. "What are you drawing?" asked Ori. "All of you!" said Amy. "May I see it when you're done?" asked Ori. "Of course!" said Amy. Ori smiled, as he patted Amy's back, and he continued to listen in on the meeting. Meanwhile, Mira sat outside and she took out a picture from her pocket.
It was a picture of her late husband, Aaron. "Things haven't been the same since you're gone, love. Everything had just fell apart. I'm so sorry, I've failed." said Mira softly, as tears falling down her face, and landing on her picture of Aaron. Suddenly her amulet began to glow again. And at the same time, she could see a figure appearing in front of her glowing. And to her shock and surprise, it was Aaron. "Aaron! No it cannot be! You're dead!" gasped Mira.
"Yes, I am dead Mira. I came to you in spirit. I bring you a message." said Aaron. "What message?" asked Mira. "Mira you've been sent here for a reason, by the amulet and the Valar. Mira, go on the quest, and help the dwarves. They will give you a home. It may not seem like they are kind to you now, but they will warm up to you." said Aaron. "Aaron, you knew this the entire time?!" snapped Mira. "Mira, you will be safe with the dwarves, and they will keep you safe. I trust them. You have no home, you lost it, and these dwarves will do their best to give you a home once you complete their quest." said Aaron.
"Aaron, Thorin won't let me go." said Mira. "He will let you go. Just let him warm to you. And another thing." said Aaron. "What's that?" asked Mira. "He will take my place, and look after you and the kids." said Aaron. "What?! Have you gone mad, Aaron?!" snapped Mira.
"I really mean it, Mira. Thorin will be taking my place, someday as he will get to know you more. And that is my wish is for someone to look after you and the children. I love you, Mira!" said Aaron, and he disappeared. "Aaron, come back!" cried out Mira, but Aaron already had gone. "Aaron!" sobbed Mira, tears falling down her face. Suddenly, she could hear the meeting inside Bilbo's home had come to end. Mira looked up at the stars, as soon she could hear Bilbo's door open, and footsteps was heard behind her. "Miss Van Buren!" spoke up a deep voice from behind her.
Mira looked up, and she saw Thorin approaching her. "Oh, its you." grumbled Mira. "Miss Van Buren, we started off on the wrong foot, and I apologize for my words earlier about you and your children. Gandalf has told me your story, and I'm sorry for what you had to go through in your world. And I came to a decision that you and your children will be joining us. Balin even has made up contract. You will sign on your children's behalf." said Thorin. Mira's eyes widened when she heard this.
"Thorin, you really shouldn't-we would have made it in the Shire." said Mira.
"Mira, please accept the offer. I have spoken to the Company, and we all agree that we would like you and your children to stay with us in Erebor." said Thorin. Mira felt very touched by the dwarf's words, and she didn't know what to say. Finally, she spoke up. "We will go. But on condition that you will train my son to fight, well actually all of us to fight." said Mira. "Agreed!" said Thorin, smiling at Mira. "You son seemed to be curious about our weapons, I've noticed." said Thorin.
"He's big into that. He always wanted a sword of his own, but I wouldn't let him have one yet, fearing he would cut himself." said Mira. "He's thirteen years old, Mira. I'm sure he can handle a sword well without cutting himself. My nephews is a good example. They picked up weapons at a very young age, and myself as well." said Thorin. "How young?" asked Mira, with a smirk on her face. "In human years, Fili and Kili have picked up their first weapons at ages 8 and 5." said Thorin.
"Oh." said Mira. "Come on inside. We're about to play some music." said Thorin, standing up. "How nice. We get a free concert!" said Mira. Thorin laughed softly. "If you put it that way, yes." said Thorin, as the two of them went back inside Bilbo's home.
By the time they entered, they made way into Bilbo's sitting room, and Mira could see all the dwarves gathered around the fireplace, and they took out their instruments and began tuning them. Jackson and Amy sat on the floor by the fireplace, while Mira took a spot in between Balin and Thorin, as Thorin found a stool and sat upon it. Dwalin bought forth an item wrapped in green silk cloth, and handing it over to Thorin. To Mira's surprise, when Thorin removed the cloth, she could see a beautiful golden harp sitting in front of him.
He's going to play his harp! Oh thank goodness, he's going to play it! Mira thought. Thorin picked up the harp and placed it on his lap, as he positioned his large fingers on the silver strings. Soon as Thorin struck the harp, the music began. Thorin and the dwarves played the music instrumentally for a while, and suddenly, Thorin started to sing, shortly joined in by the other dwarves:
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek the pale enchanted gold.
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells,
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep, where dark things sleep,
In hollow halls beneath the fells.
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gloaming golden hoard
They shaped and wrought, and light they caught
To hide in gems on hilt of sword.
On silver necklaces they strung
The flowering stars, on crowns they hung
The dragon-fire, in twisted wire
They meshed the light of moon and sun.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day,
To claim our long-forgotten gold.
Goblets they carved there for themselves
And harps of gold; where no man delves
There lay they long, and many a song
Was sung unheard by men or elves.
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 biased with light,
The bells were ringing in the dale
And men looked up with faces pale;
The dragon's ire more fierce than fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail.
The mountain smoked beneath the moon;
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom.
They fled their hall to dying -fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.
Far over the misty mountains grim
To dungeons deep and caverns dim
We must away, ere break of day,
To win our harps and gold from him!"
With the final sweep on the harp strings, the song ended.
Jackson and Amy clapped afterwards, and the dwarves smiled. "Okay you two! You have an early start! Its bedtime!" said Mira. "Yes, I'm feeling very sleepy." said Amy. "I'm surprised you didn't doze off during our song." said Balin smiling. Amy was about to speak up mentioning that her father sung that song to them many times before, but Mira gave her look. "No." said Mira gently. Amy nodded, and then she froze. "Mom, we can tuck ourselves in thank you!" said Jackson, as they two walked away from Mira. "Good night!" said Mira. "Good night, mom!" the twins said.
