Chapter 10

Ship Captain Gandalf

Note: I'm sorry for the delay and that this is so short! I have been working on the events that happen in Rivendell and there is a LOT that happens there. What I have written so far is double the length of chapter 9 and I am not done writing yet. I may break it up into 2 -3 chapters when I post it. I just have to make sure I have everything happen that I want to happen and that they occur in the right order since I don't always write scenes chronologically.

I'm posting this to assure you I am still writing. And I wanted to use the chapter title.

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Contrary to appearances, Gandalf had noticed Bilba's reaction to Thorin upon their acquaintance. He had also noticed that the Dwarf King was similarly affected.

'She would make him a fine queen, and her kind, gentle, selfless ways may help ease the hold gold sickness seemed to have on the Line of Durin whether it be through offspring or just her influence.'

The wizard liked this possibility. Yes, indeed, he liked it very much.

'Hmm. This bears watching, and perhaps a few nudges along the way.'

Gandalf placed a spell on the two subjects. Nothing too major of course. Just a very minor spell that increased the chances of them being pulled together physically. Say, if Bilba were to trip while near Thorin, the spell would make it more likely she would fall into his arms.

Later, Balin's account of the troll incident seemed to confirm that the spell was working well enough. Gandalf wished he had been there to see the Dwarf King get a little flustered by a wiggling hobbit.

Gandalf was also delighted to learn the pairing had support among the dwarves of the company. Balin and Dwalin had noticed their King's reaction to the hobbit during their time in Bag End. Ori, he learned, noticed in Bree. Fili and Kili were all for it after hearing Gloin comment that Thorin should just go ahead and marry Bilba so he could have blackberry tarts any time he wanted.

After they reached Rivendell, Gandalf washed quickly then excused himself from the dwarves as soon as possible and sought out a private meeting with the Lord of Rivendell.

"What do you wish to speak to me about, Mithrandir, that could not wait until dinner?" Elrond asked as he finished dressing after his own bath. A servant tended to the Lord's recently discarded armor in one corner of the room.

"I was hoping to enlist your aid in a small project I have going."

"Small projects for you tend to have far reaching effects," Elrond said giving the wizard a look, then sighed. "What is it that you are working on?"

"I am trying to bring Thorin Oakenshield and Bilba Baggins together," the wizard smiled.

"Bring them together? Mithrandir, are you playing matchmaker again?!" the Elf Lord asked astonished.

"Indeed, I am. Bilba would be very good for Thorin and the future of the Line of Durin."

"Ah! There are the far reaching effects I mentioned," Elrond pointed out. "I do believe you are correct in that Bilba would be a good influence on the Dwarf King, but would he be good for her?"

"I think he could be, given the chance. Seat them next to one another at dinner tonight and observe them. They are not indifferent to each other, even if they have yet to realize the extent of their attraction. If their behavior does not convince you, I will not bother you for aid on this topic again."

"Very well," Elrond said and sent his servant off with the modified seating arrangement.

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