Chapter 4
Bilbo opened his door to find a tall, bald, intimidating dwarf on his doorstep. The dwarf had a long cloak draped across his broad shoulders, a dark bushy beard that covered his face, and piercing dark eyes. The dwarf greeted him, bowing slightly. "Dwalin, at your service." The gruff voice fitted the warrior perfectly. Bilbo stammered his reply.
"Bilbo Baggins, at yours. D-do I know you?" He continued as the dwarf strode past him into his home. The dwarf turned to stare at him.
"No," came the reply. Stopping in the hallway, he handed Bilbo his cloak as he looked around the home. "Which way laddie, is it down here?" He dumped his belongings on the floor and strode back towards Bilbo.
"Is what down where?" Bilbo asked in confusion, flabbergasted that this being seemed entirely comfortable entering his home.
"Supper. He said there'd be food, and lots of it." He turned left into the front room, and spied Ember smiling brightly. He started at the sight of her beauty, but regained his composure quickly and growled, "Dwalin, at your service." She nodded politely, gestured for him to sit down at the table before her and set a plate loaded with food before him. His eyes widened at the delectable sight.
"Ember, at yours." She grinned cheekily. He raised his eyes to her and laughed. The dwarf wasted no time and he began to devour the food. Poor Bilbo slowly shut the front door, more than a trifle confused. Ember cast her eyes over the dwarf warrior. His bald head was tattooed, and his arms were like small tree trunks. She couldn't wait to see him in battle. Bilbo came back into the room, watching the dwarf thoroughly consume his meal.
"Um…it's just that I wasn't expecting company." Bilbo finally blurted. Dwalin peered up at him as the bell rang again.
"That'll be the door," the dwarf said in a low voice. Ember chuckled as she watched Bilbo head back to his foyer. He opened the door to find an old, white-haired dwarf waiting. This one was dressed in a red tunic, trimmed in grey. His white beard hung down straight, almost to his waist and curled up at the ends. She stood from her chair and headed to the kitchen to prepare another plate. She faintly heard the dwarf introduce himself as Balin. She returned just in time to see Dwalin smash his skull against the newcomer. "Hopefully they are related," she thought humorously, "or that could be an act of war!" She handed the new plate to the older dwarf who did a double take when he saw her.
"Balin, at your service, lassie," he smiled at her then peered at her closely. "Have we met before, my dear? Your features seem very familiar." She shook her head and dropped her eyes shyly. It would do no good for anyone to recognize her just yet. She was told that her eyes were that of her father more than her mother, very distinct and unique for a dwarf. As the dwarves headed to the pantry, with a distressed looking Bilbo at their heels, Ember turned to look out the window. The dark night was lit here and there with the warm glow of lanterns. Another knock at the door reached her ears. With a soft chuckle, she turned her attention to the front hall where Bilbo was now attempting to tell two more dwarves that they couldn't come in.
After confirming that "it" hadn't been cancelled, the two dwarves barged their way in, one stopping to hand Bilbo his swords with the warning, "Careful with these, I've just had them sharpened." She headed towards them, hoping to help poor Bilbo when the darker haired dwarf turned and stared at her.
She stopped as her eyes met his. It seemed like time stood still. She drank in his chocolate black hair, his dark hazel green eyes, the stubble of whiskers on his face. He was taller than her, quite tall for a dwarf. His brown overcoat covered a deep blue, almost green tunic trimmed in gold. As a warm smile played on his lips, it lit up his whole face. It was immediately returned with one of her own. The other dwarf, a handsome golden-haired fellow nudged his companion in the shoulder, as he came forward to greet her.
"Fili, at your service, my lady," he bowed low. As he rose, he smacked his companion's arm. "Pardon my brother, it has been a long journey." The raven-haired dwarf shook his head in awe, stepped closer to her and bowed deeply, the first time his eyes had left hers since they arrived.
"Kili, at your service, vol kaon, " he finished in Khuzdul, her beauty an arrow to his heart. He had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life. He had never seen such eyes. Cool blue as a mountain lake, rimmed in the dark navy of a summer night. Her skin was like fresh milk, and as he took in her hair, he almost lost complete control. It cascaded down her slim body in golden honeyed waves, while red highlights burned in the candlelight. He realized that his brother was chuckling at him, and a faint blush crept up his cheeks. He was saved as Dwalin rounded the corner.
"Fili, Kili, come on, give us a hand." The larger dwarf wrapped his arm around Kili's shoulders and guided him away. Ember shook her head, slightly out of breath. What had just happened? She had never been at a loss for words before. She made to head back to the front room when another knock stopped her.
"If this is some clot-heads idea of a joke, ha ha, I can only say it is in very poor taste!" Bilbo said, now completely exasperated at the situation unfolding in his home. Ember watched as Bilbo opened the door to an entire heap of dwarves falling into the entryway. She giggled at the grumbles and moans from the great dwarf heap, and wiggled her fingers in greeting at the man in grey standing behind them.
"Gandalf." Bilbo sighed.
Soon the entire group of dwarves began to raid Bilbo's pantry. Ember excused herself to the kitchen, fetching more plates and mugs. She turned to see Fili, who winked at her as he grabbed a handful of mugs before turning to find the ale. She grinned at him, and entered the dining room. Kili spotted her and gestured for her to come and sit beside him. She smiled shyly and sat down. She noticed Gandalf in the hallway, counting the dwarves. "Aren't we one short, Gandalf?" she called merrily. Kili gazed at the voice of the angel beside him. He had never been so enraptured with a female before, especially not a human…although she was his height.
"Indeed we are, my dear," Gandalf replied.
"He is late is all," Dwalin stated, leaning against a wall with a mug of ale in his hand. "He travelled North to a meeting of our kin. He will come." Dwalin furrowed his brow at the young girl. He too felt that he had seen her before, but he could not place her. He shook his head as they finally piled into the dining room. Laughter erupted as Fili walked over the table, handing out fresh mugs of ale. They pounded their tankards together, Kili yelled "Up!" and they all began to drink the ale down. Ember laughed as ale splashed over beards and braids onto the table. Once finished, the dwarves began to burp, until a massively loud burp was released from a quiet redheaded dwarf named Ori. They all laughed, when quite suddenly, a tankard was placed in front of her. Ember felt 14 pairs of eyes turn to her. She raised an eyebrow at Gandalf, and he shook his head slightly. She shrugged, raising the tankard and swallowing the sweet honey ale down. She drank quickly but delicately and not a drop was spilt. She lowered her tankard to the impressed sounds from her companions, when all of a sudden she let out an enormous burp. Silence filled the room.
"Excuse me," she laughed, "better out than in, wouldn't you say?" The dwarves burst into laughter and cheered at her. Kili grinned and clinked his tankard with hers. Soon, the merry meal finished, and Ember rose to clear the plates. She stepped into the hall just as Ori approached Bilbo.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?" he asked the now flustered and thoroughly wound up hobbit.
"Here you go, Ori, give it to me." Fili took the plate from Ori, then turned and threw it to Kili, who twisted and threw it behind his back to a dwarf with an axe in his forehead standing at the sink in the kitchen. The other dwarves quickly joined in, throwing bowls, cups, and even utensils throughout the hobbit hole. Ember stood back in amazement as a rhythm began to emerge.
"Can you not do that? You'll blunt them!" called Bilbo, at the dwarves now pounding the knives on the table.
"Ooh, do you hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives." The dwarf, named Bofur, winked at Ember. A merry song began with Kili's strong voice.
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks, Smash the bottles and burn the corks,
Chip the glasses and crack the plates, That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Cut the cloth and tread on the fat, Leave the bones on the bedroom mat,
Pour the mil on the pantry floor, Splash the wine on every door,
Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl, Pound them up with a thumping pole,
When you've finished if any are whole, Send them down the hall to roll,
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
The song ended with all the dishes stacked all clean and neat. Ember felt that she had never laughed so hard, and came up behind Bilbo wrapping him in a hug. He patted her arm in appreciation, when suddenly there were three loud knocks on the door. Ember raised her head to Gandalf. He looked at her steadily, nodding. "He is here."
vol kaon - blue eyes