Chapter 4
The Misty Mountains Cold
"Oh you're gonna regret what you said." Rachel said.
Damn straight he is!
I stood up and wiped away my tears. I silently made my way back to the dining room and came up behind Thorin.
"Tell me Thorin…." he stiffened. "Do you truly think that I would let my sisters go with you without me?! There is no way in hell! If you do not want me I will follow you anyway! Make no mistake that what my sisters have said is true! I have a horrible temper and I regret what I have done. But my sisters are all I have left in my life, I will NOT risk losing them. Just as I know you would never risk losing your nephews." I looked at Fili and Kili. "I need no contract, for I want none of your gold! Nor do I care if I should die so long as my sisters are safe! Now this is my choice, accept it, or deny it for I do not care either way." I said.
Gandalf had an amused look on his face. Thorin stood and then turned to look at me. His expression was one of shock, anger and to my surprise guilt. Though the guilt was very small.
"None have ever spoken to me in such a way. Yet I shall not stop you from coming if you wish to protect your kin. Very well."
I nodded and then leaned against the wall. Gandalf now spread a map out on the table. My interest grew, for I had always loved Thror's map. I had drawn it once or twice.
"Now the task I have in mind shall require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage."
As he began to speak of the hidden door I found myself staring at Thorin. It was only when Ori spoke that I realized I was staring.
"That is why we need a burglar!"
"Hm and a good one too." said Bilbo.
They turned and looked at him.
"And are you?" Gloin asked.
"Am I what?"
"I say! He said he is an expert!"
"What me!? No, no, no, no, no!" He said.
"Aye the wild is not place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin said.
Bilbo was nodding. Soon all the dwarves were expressing their doubts. This only made Gandalf angry.
"ENOUGH! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a Burglar then a burglar he shall be!"
They all looked at Gandalf in terror, well all save Thorin. He sort of looked at Gandalf like 'Oh so you can get mad? Well done!'. This caused me to smile a bit and Fili seemed to notice. I knew I would have to be careful with those two. They were very intuitive and did not miss a thing. I looked away and then Gandalf looked at Thorin.
"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins…."
"No, no, no!"
Gandalf looked at him and his mouth snapped shut.
"Precisely."
"And why these three? Why have you brought them?"
"Rachel is a very skilled and able healer. I think you shall be more then grateful for her down the road. Ann is the strongest of the three of them, though I believe Ella follows very close. She is very skilled with a sword and even an axe. As for Ella….." He looked at me. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "She has told you what she can do."
"Then why is it I sense there is something more to the reason you brought her?" Thorin inquired.
Gandalf would say nothing more but this,
"You must trust me on this."
Thorin stared at him for a moment or two before nodding.
"Very well. Give them our contract!"
"Morning we are off!"
I looked at the dwarf with the silly hat. This could only be Bofur. Balin stood. He handed one to my sister, Bilbo and myself.
"It is just the usual out of pocket expenses. Time required, funeral arrangements, so forth."
Thorin took the contract and handed it to Bilbo. Or rather he smacked it against him.
"F-funeral arrangements?"
I signed the contract as did my sisters. Bilbo walked into the hall to read it. Thorin stood and leaned closer to Gandalf.
"I cannot guarantee the safety of any of them."
"Understood."
"Nor will I be responsible for their fate."
I looked over at him.
"You may find that is she who shall be guaranteeing your safety."
Thorin looked at me and caught me looking at him. I did not shy away. I gave him a look of confusion. He looked away and I shrugged.
Goddess give me the strength not to kill him myself.
"Up to but not exceeding 1/14th of total profit if any…hm that seems fair. Cannot be held accountable for any injuries sustaining to….lacerations? Evisceration?" he flipped the page and then slowly looked at us. "Incineration?"
"Oh aye he shall melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur said.
I looked at him and disbelief. He smiled and winked. Bilbo was breathing hard.
"You alright laddie?" Balin asked.
"No I um….I feel a bit faint."
Bofur smiled and stood up.
"Think furnace with wings!"
"Air…I-I need air!"
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! You are nothing more then a pile of ash!"
"You idiot!" I said.
"What?"
"Nope!"
Bilbo fell to the floor and I smacked my hand to my face.
"Oh bother!" I said.
I walked over and picked him up. I gave Bofur a disapproving look.
"It was only meant to help."
"Well it clearly did not!" I said.
I carried him to his living room and set him in a comfy looking armchair. One of the dwarves, I believe it was Dori, came and set a mug of ale at his elbow. I sat there and then Rachel came over.
"He'll be alright sis. Just give him some breathing space."
I raised my eyebrow at her.
"So basically what you mean to say is 'Go away so I can sit with him.'" I said.
She laughed. I smiled and then stood up and walked away towards the dining room.
"Well?" Thorin asked.
I looked at him.
"What do you mean? If you have a question for me ask!" I snapped.
I would not take Thorin's rudeness. If he wanted my respect he had better start earning it! He sighed in frustration.
"Is the hobbit alright?" He growled.
"Yes he is. Now was that so hard?" I asked.
He scowled at me and I scowled right back. I heard Gandalf and Bilbo arguing and then Bilbo walked away to his room. Thorin and Balin walked out into the hall. I did not mean to eavesdrop, but it was hard not to hear Thorin talk. His voice was deep.
"Well it would appear that we have lost our burglar." Said Balin.
I sighed.
"After all what are we anyway? Tinkers, toymakers." said the old dwarf.
"There are a few warriors amongst us." Thorin said.
I smiled a bit. I knew Thorin was a strong warrior.
"Old warriors."
There was a silence before Balin spoke again.
"You do not have to do this. You have a choice. You have done honorably by our people. Built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains. A life of peace and plenty, worth more then all the gold in Erebor."
I peered around the corner. Thorin took the key and held it up.
"This has come to me by my father and grandfather. And I would take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them they answered. Loyalty, honor, a willing heart." He looked over and saw me. My eyes widened. He held my gaze. "I can ask no more then that."
Is he speaking directly to me or am I imagining things? Well it would not be the biggest surprise I have had all day.
"That is why there is no choice Balin. Not for me."
He looked away and Balin stood up.
"Then we are with you laddie."
I smiled small. Balin was a good friend to Thorin.
He and the other dwarves now walked out to the living room. Thorin stood near the fireplace and lit his pipe with the others. They began to hum and I closed my eyes.
I love this song.
Thorin began to sing.
Far over the Misty Mountain cold
To dungeons deep, and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To seek our pale enchanted gold
The dwarves of yore made mighty spells
While hammers fell like ringing bells
In places deep where dark things sleep,
In hallow halls beneath the fells
For ancient king and elvish lord
There many a gleaming 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 un-heard 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 blazed with light
The bells were ringing in the Dale
And men looked up with faces pale
Then dragon's ire, more fierce then fire
Laid low their towers and houses frail
The mountain smoked beneath the moon;
The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom
The fled their hall to dying fall
Beneath his feet, beneath the moon
Far over the Misty Mountains grim
To dungeons deep, and caverns grim
We must away ere break of day
To win our harps and gold from him!
I found that I had started to sing with them, though very softly so I guessed they had not heard me. I opened my eyes and found my sisters asleep. I smiled and grabbed a blanket I covered them both and smiled.
"Sleep well." I whispered.
"They mean much to you."
I looked up at Bofur. I nodded.
"They are all I have left in this world."
He nodded.
"Aye, all I have is my brother Bombur there, and my cousin Bifur."
I looked over at the dwarf I knew to be Bombur. Bifur sat close to him. I nodded.
"Family is a precious gift to all." I said.
"Aye."
Bofur walked off and I picked a spot in the living room and lay down. I softly hummed a lullaby my mother used to sing to me when I could not sleep. Little did I know, Thorin was awake.