Well, as it turns out she didn't get to her destination until well after dark the next day. In her defense it was totally for lack of trying, she had found a beautiful spot on a grassy hill side and napped in the warm sunlight for a few hours before continuing on her trek to Bagshot Row. In fact it was late enough that she had stopped singing for fear of waking any of the Hobbits tucked away in the beautifully build little homes. She knew very well that she couldn't sing to save her own life so she made it a point to never do so where any poor creatures may hear her. In fact she knew from the professionals that her singing was horrid because after she had discovered her Dragonborn heritage she has visited the Bard's College in Solitude with the hope that the breath control exercises they used for singing would help her with her Thu'um. At the end of it her lungs were stronger and she had more stamina when it came to her shouts, but there was not a day gone by that she didn't picture the look of stunned disbelief on Giraud's face every time he tried to teach her more that the exercises or proper courtly etiquette.
She finally rounded the last corner on the row and came upon a curious sight. She was quite sure this was the home she was looking for even though it was hard to tell the color of the door in the darkness. What she also found was a strange glowing rune etched into the base of the door, it almost seemed to be reflecting the dime moonlight. It was she noticed, almost the same dim blue that a new Thu'um glowed right before she absorbed it from its wall. Rather than walking up and knocking on the door she set her pack on the small bench at the front of the house and pulled out her latest journal, she drew the rune at the top of a blank page and made a note to herself to learn more about this new language and the power behind it.
She placed her journal back in its well waxed waterproof sack and slung her pack over her shoulder. As she approached the door for a second time she took note of the light spilling from the windows and the faint sounds of people muffled by the door, she was glad she would not have to make a choice between waking her soon to be acquaintance and sleeping on his doorstep. After listening at the door for a moment to see if she could pick up any voices (completely unashamedly by the way, eavesdropping was a dead useful skill) she rapped her knuckles against the wood three times and stood back to wait. It wasn't long before the door was forcibly yanked open by a flustered looking hobbit.
"Master Baggins?" She asked, in a slight shock at his ruffled state.
"Well at least your not another dwarf." Was his answer, she wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that so she simply moved on with the conversation, if it could be called that.
"Please forgive my intrusion at so late an hour, Farmer Maggot said you may be able to help me. I didn't realize you were having a party."
"Yes well," Now he looked a little abashed for having spoken to her so harshly, "It was entirely unexpected. Please do come in. And try to forgive me I'm afraid I'm a bit out of my element. Every time I've opened this door tonight its been to more dwarves, I have no idea whats going on and I fear that its only just the beginning."
"If these guests are no longer welcome perhaps you should make it plain to them," Branwen frowned with the thought that someone would seek to take advantage of one of these sweet little people. "If you fear resistance I would gladly aide you in this, I don't know the customs of this land, but in Skyrim a guest rarely shows such disrespect of a host that they would refuse to leave when no longer welcome."
As she closed the door behind her and looked to the little man she saw him finally calm down enough to register her armor and weapons. Unlike the farmer and the few hobbits she passed on her way here he seemed immediately curious as apposed to wary or outright frighted of her. In fact he was so absorbed in her odd dress that it took him a moment to give an answer for her offer.
"Oh no, no it's not like that. Well that is to say, well a party has found its way here and I'm sure you would care for refreshments. Please come sit I have plenty to share and..." Before he could finish a loud knocking came from the door behind her and his little head dropped in equal parts exasperation and resignation. Seeing as her large frame was blocking the door she twisted around and opened it for him. Standing on the other side was what she assumed to be a dwarf.
"Bofur, at your service," And the odd little man gave her a deep bow before turning around and calling out behind himself. "Well come on then, we haven't got all night. This is my brother Bomber and our cousin Bifur."
"I am Branwen Artair of Skyrim and this," She shifted as best she could to show Bilbo and continued in a light tone. "Is your most gracious host. Please be respectful of his home and holdings Master Bofur or I will toss you and your brother and your cousin out on your asses. I have only just arrived but I gather that your friends have invited themselves in and caused quite the upset for our kind little hobbit." Bofur took the strange...winged hat from his head and held it to his chest in a sincere gesture, his reply was delivered in the same conversational tone she had used. There was a glint of good-natured amusement in his eye as he spoke.
"You have my word Miss Branwen, it is not our intention to cause anyone upset, we gather here tonight at the behest of the Wizard Gandalf. We seek only to hold council tonight and of course to go over the contract with Master Baggins, should it be to his liking." By this point the hobbit had regained his voice and started raining questions down on Bofur's head. She moved off into as small sitting room with a cozy fireplace and started to remove her armor and weapons. Leaving her in nothing but the heavy wool undershirt and leggins she wore to protect herself from pinching and chaffing. The armor was one of her greatest sets to date, but it was still armor and it was only so comfortable.
She stayed in a chair next to the fire place for most of the night just dozing in and out as best she could with the increasing number of dwarves coming into the house. Her poor host spent most of that time running from one end of the house to the other following after different dwarves trying to get information. Such as why the were in his house, what they wanted and who they were. From the sounds of it he wasn't having too much luck. He did however make time to properly introduce himself to her and even managed to wrestle some food and drink away from his other "guests" for her. At least they were a lively bunch and she was surprised when they started singing (they were good enough to take it on the road if the fancy ever hit them). For all their boisterousness and playful bickering she could feel a more serious undertone it was a feeling that ran deep, as if everyone of them was waiting for something, a moment, an event that would have a profound effect on all their lives. It was barely noticeable at first but as she became more aware of it and tried to examine it further she felt a shiver run up her spine, something was coming, and she would likely be a part of it.
The house had become quite full with twelve dwarves, a frazzled hobbit and her long legs stretched out before the fire. The noise level was starting to get a little out of hand even for her and her people were not known for being the quiet or shy types. So she was relieved when a loud banging sounded at the door and every one fell silent, if only it could have lasted. It was apparently not who they were waiting for. Instead the Wizard Gandalf had arrived, he was immediately set upon by the hobbit and dragged into a side room before she could introduce herself.
Well that was fine, she thought, nothing had changed and she had all the time in the world for introductions. Suddenly someone pulled a stool up to the fire and she opened her eyes to see Bofur, with a pipe between his teeth. He was giving her a curious look. She had rested enough for the night and it looked like the dwarves were done torturing there reluctant host.
"You look like you have a question for me Master Dwarf."