The Adventures Begin

Chapter V ~ Signing the Contract

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Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Hobbit' or 'The Lord of the Rings'. They belong to their respective owners. I only own the Jameson sisters and they're family.

Two chapters in two days! Lucky you! =)

Author's Note: * might contain spoilers, no spoilers if you've actually read the book first :P * HOLY FLIPPIN' SMAUG! I saw the Desolation of Smaug last night for the first time! I nearly jumped out of my seat when Smaug came on to the screen. Tauriel was amazing. I don't know why people objected to her being in the film. Also, I love Orlando Bloom but Legolas was kind of a jerk in the movie. Pffft, oh well. I wish they would have added more of Beorn though. It felt like he was in the movie only for like five seconds before they were off again. =/ I hated the way Peter Jackson ended the movie! =(

More inspiration kicked in after seeing Part 2. So, enjoy!

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"What news of the council? Will Dain support us?" Dwalin asked, as Thorin was given something to eat.

"No. He says this is our quest and we must do this alone. No help will come from the Iron Hills." Thorin replied.

"Isn't that a bit selfish?" Emma mumbled, quietly.

Thorin, however, caught her reply and sent her a look. She gnawed at her bottom lip and tucked a strand of ginger hair behind her ear. Thorin continued further about the quest. Emma continued listening as best she could.

"We are facing a dragon, Miss Jameson." Thorin growled at her, "to reclaim our homeland and my rightful place as King under the Mountain."

"You forget there is no way into the mountain. The entrance to the mountain was sealed off." Balin added.

"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf exclaimed, somehow pulling out a large key from thin air.

"How came you by this?" Thorin asked, taken aback.

"It was given to me by your father for safe keeping. You have the map, Thorin?"

Thorin pulled out the parchment from the side of his fur-lined coat and placed it on the table folded out.

"Bilbo, let us have a little more light." Gandalf inquired.

Bilbo brought out a candle and set it beside the map next to Thorin. He peered over the dwarf's shoulder and read the map.

"The Lonely Mountain," said Bilbo.

"Well, if there's a key, then there must be a door!" Fili exclaimed, looking to his uncle.

"Well said, Sherlock," Claire added, with a hint of sarcasm.

Emma glanced over at her sister and rolled her eyes with a smile. Claire gave Fili a pat on the shoulder and he glanced back at her. Claire immediately moved her hand away from Fili's shoulder and looked at her lap. Emma could see Fili still watching her younger sister.

"There is a hidden passage into the mountain. This is the key that opens it." Gandalf added.

"That's why we need a burglar!" Ori piped up.

"And an expert one to, I'd imagine." Bilbo said,

"And are you?" Gloin asked Bilbo.

"Am I what?"

"Aye! He says he's an expert!"

Bilbo shook his head and began to stutter.

"No! No, I haven't stolen a thing in my life!" he cried. "I'm hardly burglar material."

"Sadly, I must agree with Master Baggins," said Balin.

"The Wild is no place for gentle folk or women." Dwalin grumbled.

"Hey! I'll have you know, dwarf, my father trained me in fencing and archery." Claire shot up and glowered at Dwalin. "Inside every damsel there's a fire breathing dragon and I warn you if you wake this one up inside me, you'll—,"

"Enough!" Thorin bellowed. He then looked to Emma. "Miss Jameson, if your sister cannot contain herself, I must ask you to remove her from our presence,"

"I will gladly excuse myself." Claire snapped, and stormed out of the kitchen.

"The lass has a pit full of fire in her." Dwalin commented, sending a look to Emma.

"Yeah, she has it in her. Only when someone really ticks her off she gets feisty, but that is extremely rare."

"Dwalin, Miss Jameson, may we return to the matter at hand?" Thorin asked, rather irritated.

"Right, sorry," Emma apologized.

"Balin, give Mr. Baggins and Miss Jameson the contract."

"Contract? Why do I need a contract?"

"It is just the basic accommodations, funeral arrangements and such." Balin replied, watching as Emma opened her contract.

"Each member will receive on sixteenth of the shared treasure…we are not responsible for…lacerations…incineration?" Bilbo yelped.

"Oh aye, Smaug the Terrible, he'll melt the skin right off your bones in the blink of an eye. Searing pain for a moment and poof! You're nothin' but a pile of ash." Bofur explained.

Emma looked towards Bilbo who was looking awfully pale.

"Bilbo, are you okay?" Emma asked.

"Think furnace…with wings,"

"Air, I need air!" Bilbo barely managed to say.

"Bilbo?" Emma said, right before he collapsed to the ground.

"Very helpful, Bofur," Gandalf muttered. "Emma, help me lift Bilbo to his wingchair. He will wake soon."

"Here, Ems, give me the contract. I'm signing it." Claire said.

"Excellent! We've got a young lass who can fight joining us!" said Fili, smiling at Claire.

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"So, if you don't mind my asking, Miss Jameson, why are you joining our company?" Fili asked, as the youngest Jameson girl wrote her signature on the contract.

Claire looked up at Fili who gave her a knowing gaze. For a moment, Claire held her breath as Fili watched her like he was trying to read her.

"I don't know, I suppose it's because I want to do something worth-while and be as much use to the company and its purpose as best I can. My sisters and I never do anything unexpected, so I guess we're also stepping out of our own comforts and entering the world."

"That is an honorable purpose." Fili said, placing his hand on her arm gently.

Claire smiled and shifted as she felt his hand on her skin. His hand was rough on her soft skin, of course due to the fact he used weaponry amongst other things.

"So, why did you follow your uncle on this quest?"

"I suppose it is for the same reason as Thorin. We wish to reclaim our homeland. I am his heir. If something should happen to Uncle Thorin, I would be king." Fili said, his expression darkening.

"Do you not want to be king?" Claire asked, softly.

"I do…but I do not know if I am truly prepared to be king should something happen."

"I am sure you will be when the time comes. But hopefully, nothing will happen to your uncle."

"Thank you, Lady Claire,"

Fili sent Claire a charming smile and she smiled back lightly. A tap on her shoulder distracted her thoughts and Claire turned to look up at her older sister.

"Did you sign it?"

"Yup,"

"Okay, it's my turn. Hand it over." Emma exclaimed.

"Oh and Fili," said Claire, "Please just call me Claire. I'm just an ordinary girl."

You are more than ordinary. Fili thought.

"Of course, Claire," Fili answered instead.

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Once the dwarves had spread out through the rooms, Emma found Thorin speaking to Balin. Both dwarves noticed her as she walked quietly up to them. Emma gave an awkward wave and showed Balin the contract.

"Sorry, did I interrupt anything?" she asked.

"We just finished, Lass, are you certain you and your sister wish to join the Company? There is no going back."

"Yes, we're sure."

"Welcome to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield, Miss Jameson."

Balin smiled at her kindly as he folded up the girls' contract. Now there was only Bilbo who needed to sign his contract. Balin walked back into the kitchen, leaving Thorin and Emma alone together which had been quite uncomfortable for both.

"Look, Thorin, I understand you do not wish to have me or my sister to join your quest. We will not be in your way. But you could use an extra fighter or two."

"Very well," said Thorin.

Thorin met her gaze and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Emma felt something tug at her heart when Thorin looked at her. His blue eyes were soft as he watched her but there was also fierceness in his eyes.

Thorin had felt something as well; it was almost like his chest tightened when she looked at him. Earlier when they were discussing the matter of the quest, Thorin could have sworn her eyes were brown but now they were a hazel-green color. Her hair matched the color of red flames. Thorin also noticed she was quite thin but still had a curved figure of a woman.

"I should go…to my sister." Emma stuttered, snapping his attention back to reality.

The heels on her boots clicked as she walked back to her sister. Thorin would not let her be a distraction. He needed to reclaim Erebor from Smaug and put any thoughts of Emma out of his head. She will not be a distraction.

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