Chapter IX: Unexpected Visitors

One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts. ― From The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

The next morning, Frerin waited outside of the dining hall to ambush Thorin with his brotherly concern. "You seemed to have problems sleeping last night."

"No more than usual," Thorin said. He flexed his left hand, still trying to shake off the feeling of Bella's hand on his as she said his name.

"Uh huh. That's why you kept stealing my blanket. You only do that when you have nightmares," Frerin said. The brothers walked together towards the library.

"Not nightmares." Thorin glanced around and was relieved to see no one following them. "I had Memories of Sibeal."

"Newly returned ones?" Frerin said.

"Yes," Thorin said.

Frerin made "go on" motions.

"It was in Erebor. Scenes from their courtship. Sibeal was not impressed with him being heir to Erebor," Thorin said.

Frerin snorted a laugh. "I doubt she would be. Quite the Dwarf from everything that I've read."

"She was, yes."

"And that's why you couldn't sleep? The Memories?"

"Partially," Thorin said.

"Partially?"

"The timing."

"The timing?"

Thorin groaned. "Must you repeat everything I say?"

"It is tempting."

"This is the third time I have had Memories of Sibeal."

Frerin looked up at the vaulted ceilings for a moment as he thought about when Thorin had told him of the Memories. "The first was some time after Smaug attacked and the second time was a little bit before we settled in the Blue Mountains."

Thorin flexed his left hand again. "More specific."

"I don't know. Those were rather hectic days. Can you just tell me what you're getting at?" Frerin said.

"The day Smaug attacked and the day we entered the Shire are when I had Memories of Sibeal," Thorin said.

"Alright… and?"

"I know it is under used, but please use your mind and actually think about it for a moment."

Frerin punched Thorin's arm. "Mum says I'm smart."

"Compared to a rock, maybe."

After giving his brother another punch in the arm, Frerin thought for a moment and then gasped. "No."

"I don't truly know. Is it even possible? She isn't a Dwarf and…"

Fíli ran towards his uncles. "The Master of Laketown is here and so are some Elves!"

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

Bella watched through a hole in the wall made at the gate. She had come to the entrance almost as soon as she was told save for a quick stop at her room to pick up a few important items which she kept hidden in a bag. Balin tried to soothe the small army that was waiting at the entrance of Erebor until Thorin could be found.

"What do the Elves want?" Bella asked Dori, who was the only other Dwarf who was present who was not along the top of the wall. There were a dozen Elves, but their presence was unexpected to the Hobbit.

"We might have made a deal with them," Dori said.

"Why would you do that? I know they did not offer aid when Smaug came," Bella said.

Dori sighed. "We were traveling through their lands when the Elves found us. They said we were trespassing, which is utter nonsense. There are still travelers through the Elves' lands… not many, but some. The only reason we were not thrown in the dungeons was because of Gandalf's presence. Thorin and the Elf king…"

"Thranduil?"

"Yes, Thranduil. They argued and many insults were thrown about. Some sort of necklace was supposedly not given to the Elven king during Thrór's time and Thorin told Thranduil that it was because the Elves were greedy and would not pay and… well…" Dori motioned to the army of Elves. "Thorin said he would try to find the necklace for Thranduil if he let us through to Long Lake."

Bella smirked. "Try being the word."

"Thorin may be impatient at times, but he is not a complete idiot," Frerin said.

Bella and Dori turned to the king and his brother. Thorin carried Orcrist and a battle ax while Frerin had the matching ax as well as an ornately carved bow.

"Have they tried to storm the gate yet?" Thorin asked.

"Not yet. No shots fired," Dori said.

Thorin climbed to the top of the gate to join the rest of the Dwarves save for Bifur who was preparing weapons for use if necessary. Frerin and Dis flanked their brother. Frerin stood on Thorin's right with Fíli and Kíli while Dis was at his left with Balin. Bella pulled up the hood of cloak and put on her gloves as she joined the others at the top of the wall next to Balin. The sight of the army was even more impressive from above. A fair green banner waved from the small party of Elves and a blue banner represented the Men of the Lake. She recognized the Master of Laketown riding a horse who looked weary from its large burden.

Thorin hailed them in a loud voice. "Who are you that come armed for war to the gates of Thorin son of Thráin, King Under the Mountain?"

"Hail Thorin!" said the Master, "Why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold? We are not yet foes, and we rejoice that you are alive and that the dragon is dead. We are here for a parley and a council."

"And this armed force is merely to observe than? I find it a bit over dramatic for a few nights' lodgings from the Men of the Lake," Thorin said.

"Would you rather have us address a king with a small party not worthy of his status?" the Master said.

Bella whispered to Balin, "Can you go down to them as a representative to discuss matters of payment? A king should not have to deal with bill collectors."

Balin said, "That might cool tensions if we at least talk to them so Thorin does not deal with the Elves directly."

"Try to see if you can speak to Bard the Bowman as Laketown's representative. He is a descendant of the last Lord of Dale. Make a connection to him and it will help us in the future," Bella said.

"Will do, lass," Balin said.

Balin spoke to Dis who passed the message to Thorin. The Dwarf King said, "Come now. This is unnecessary force and we will get nothing done by shouting at each other. Let us each send representatives to discuss this trifling matter at the gate."

"So you will fulfill your debt?" the Master said.

Thorin said nothing, but motioned to the Dwarves to lower a rope so Balin could go speak to the representatives. Bella ducked down and knelt behind Dis so the armies at the gate would not see her.

"Oakenshield, don't look, but I need to speak with you," Bella said.

Thorin spoke in a low tone so none but those around him could hear. "What is the matter Hobbit? I am preoccupied at the moment."

"This will only take a moment of your time. Can I go and see them? They have to know that your Company is here, so I can go down without too many questions since Bifur hasn't shown himself," Bella said.

"Why on Arda would you want to go down?" Thorin said.

"I've never met an Elf before," Bella said.

"They are not worth meeting," Thorin said.

"I have dealt with the Men of the Lake for over a century and a half. I am hoping we can speak to a man I know for his wisdom and kindness. I can help Balin." Bella tugged at Thorin's coat and looked up at him as innocently as she was able. "Please, your Majesty?"

A few minutes later Balin and Bella in shoes and a cloak went to speak with the Elves and Men. Bella was not sure if she heard Frerin snicker over something he said to Thorin.

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

"How do you lot walk in these shoes? I have never got the knack of it," Bella said.

"It stops our feet from being injured and keeps them warm," Balin said, "A little bit more weight is worth it."

"Well Hobbits don't…" Bella made it look like she tripped over her feet and fell in the mud. She covertly covered the scales on her face and her bead with a bit of mud before standing up. Her gloves, sleeves, and boots covered the rest that might give her away.

"I'm alright, Balin," Bella said as the Dwarf helped her to her feet.

"If you say so, lad," Balin said.

Bella was glad that her face was mostly hidden when she heard Balin say "lad". She knew from what Dis and the books had told her that Dwarf women generally hid their sex when dealing with those besides Dwarves, but she had not expected to fall under that category. (Particularly as she was not hiding her curves very well, but she was not going to bring that up with any male Dwarf. She was quite respectable, thank you very much.)

Two Elves were sent as representatives, both tall and dressed in greens and browns. The male had green eyes and long blonde hair in a simple braid. The other, a female Elf, had dark hair that was in long dreads and eyes the color of amber.

One man was sent by the Master who Bella knew to be Alfrid, the Master's assistant. He was a slimy, weasel like character who often made Bella want to throw him into Long Lake on more than one occasion.

Before Balin could say anything, Bard came out of the crowd, a bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. He looked a bit older than he should as a Mortal Man of thirty-five, but his wife had passed a little over a year before. "My apologies," Bard said as he stood near (but not by) Alfrid.

Bella pulled out a sack hidden beneath her cloak and handed out each participant a cup before pouring them some wine. "To common sense," Bella said in as low of a tone as was natural to her.

The others warily toasted and took a sip of the wine, finding it to be a good quality. "Now, I also brought some bread and cheese that matches well with that wine, but I'm afraid we do not have a table. It would be a bit awkward just standing here, yes? It is a bit difficult to bring down a table when one is climbing down a rope."

Balin looked ill at ease with such a suggestion, but soon there was a table. Food from both Elves and Men appeared quite soon afterwards. The group spoke quietly about favorite food pairings while Bella cut up some cheese with a Dwarven cheese knife made of silver.

"Now, good folk, what seems to be the matter?" Bella said.

Alfrid spoke first, "We have yet to be paid for our early investment in the quest of the Dwarves."

"Investment?" Balin said as if the word was made of slime.

"Aye, investment. How were we to know you were to return? Or would not wake the dragon?" Alfrid said.

"Well, I think a wizard would be good enough reliability to vouch for anyone, be he a bit mysterious," Bella said.

"I would like to know of the dragon," Bard said.

"Oh, yes," Bella said, "About that." She pulled out a long, wrapped parcel from behind her back. "Mr. Bard, if you remember, a little less than a year ago, your black arrow disappeared."

Bard furrowed his brow. "How…?"

Bella unwrapped the parcel and showed a black arrow smelling still of dragon. The group covered their noses and mouths. "The dragon is dead. No Free Folk did it, but I brought you evidence of his demise. I would not touch it with bare hands. It is poisonous from the blood."

Bard shook his head. "How could a Dwarf…"

Bella pushed back her hood. "My deepest apologies. I was passing through and…"

"YOU!" Alfrid and Bard said at the same time.

Bella grinned. Balin said, "What did you do?"

"Oh, nothing but a few pranks as I came into town for trade," Bella said.

"This girl and her family have been a menace to Lake Town for generations!" Alfrid said, "Every year a blonde girl comes into town, trades, and then causes nothing but mischief."

Bella shrugged. "It was just some rotting fish in your shoes, Mr. Alfrid. Hardly a menace."

"Aye, but you did steal from me last year," Bard said.

"Just the arrow and I have returned it," Bella said.

"Why? And how did you know I had it?" Bard said.

"Stories," Bella said as if that had all the answers. She sighed. "I do feel a bit bad though, for that mischief." She dumped all of her silverware on the table and pushed it towards Alfrid. "To Lake Town, from me."

"Where did you get this?" Alfrid said, his eyes gleaming at the large pile of silver.

"Where do you think?" Bella said without answering, "They're not greedy, these Dwarves. This is just from me showing them where Smaug died. How do you think they will treat allies?"

Alfrid's mouth snapped shut.

Balin said, "The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay. We do not have even have our kin yet amongst us. How can we have trade routes and negotiations amongst old allies as winter settles in and the people settle-in for staying at home?"

"Do you think anything, even a loaf's worth, would be given to you under threat of force?" Bella said, "The Dwarves see an armed host before their doors. How would you react to such a thing?" She tried not to smile as she saw the Elves look uncomfortable.

"We are here to pay for our supplies and shelter during our time in Laketown," Balin said as he placed a sack of coins in front of Alfrid.

The Master's assistant looked put out by such an easy trade, but took the money back. Bard remained behind, staring curiously at Bella. "Your family is generally not here until the end of November."

"Bit of a rough year," Bella said. "Your children are well I hope?"

"They are, yes," Bard said.

Bella wrapped up the black arrow and covertly slipped a piece of paper into the parcel. "Take good care of this, Mr. Bard. May it continue to protect your family."

Bard bowed his head. Bella turned to the Elves. "Now, what seems to be the matter with you lot?"

"Excuse me?" Laisidhiel said. She was the Elf with dreads.

"Why are you lot here? Honestly, I have never heard of Elves acting so rashly," Bella said. This was completely untrue, but it was good to remind the Elves that they were being irrational.

"We are here to collect what is rightfully our king's," Maeglad said as he brushed back some of his blonde hair.

"I understand that, I really do, but I neither understand this force nor this speed. Here I thought Elves were patient," Bella said.

Maeglad looked ready to snap something back, but Laisidhiel put a hand on his arm. "Dwarves are not known to willingly give up their treasure. What we ask for is from that due from payment already given."

Balin nodded. "And we are searching for it, but it is not our only priority. We will give it to you when we can. It is a bit of a mess in there." He pinched Bella's arm to keep from speaking out.

"And how long do you think this will take?" Laisidhiel asked.

"Give us at least a month to bury our dead," Balin said.

Laisidhiel bowed her head. "Of course. We shall return at the beginning of the Men's month of December."

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

Frerin held Thorin back when they saw Bella remove the hood of her cloak. "Idiot. Stupid, stupid idiot," Thorin hissed.

"Now, now, let's see what she's doing," Frerin said.

Thorin gripped the stone ledge while the Hobbit and Balin spoke with the representatives of the hosts. In what seemed an eternity and no time at all, the two returned to Erebor. Once the Dwarf and Hobbit were over the wall, Thorin growled, "Follow me, now."

There was a meeting chamber just past the gate, close enough for an emergency meeting, but far enough away for none to overhear them. Frerin, Dis, Fíli, and Kíli joined Thorin as well as Balin and Bella.

Thorin glared at the Hobbit. "What did you do?"

"I did what I had to," Bella said.

"And what was that?" Thorin said.

"I showed them that you would treat someone not a Dwarf with generosity, that you had plenty of food, and that the dragon was dead. That's what I did," Bella said.

"You were there to observe. You could have had the host descend upon you with one misplaced word," Thorin said.

Bella nodded. "I am aware of that. I was not always with the dragon only, Oakenshield. I was once a very respectable Hobbit."

"I don't care about a silly Hobbit's ability to speak politely over tea if it will get my people killed!"

Bella put her hands on her hips and glared up at the Dwarf king. "Now listen here, your majesty, you don't know what being respectable means."

Thorin stood up straighter as he tried to make her realize that she would not win this argument. The Hobbit seemed undisturbed, however, as she continued. "Respectable means you know everyone. You memorize the family trees, listen to gossip, and sit through the most boring of teas. A respectable Hobbit is one that is soft-spoken to those in need and at the same time must be willing to deal with the roughest of characters to make a deal. A respectable Hobbit has power and I had the most in the Shire besides the heads of the families. I can deal with greedy folk just as well as you can and with less bloodshed."

Bella took a deep breath and almost touched Thorin's arm, but pulled back at the last moment. "I have been listening to several generations of politics in Laketown as well as their problems with Greenwood. The Master is a cruel and greedy man who would have never taken payment from you unless it was to bleed you dry. We paid him in front of the Elves so that if he moved against you, the whole world would know about his greed and the Elves would not trade with him. The Woodland Realm is Laketown's main source of income since Erebor fell.

"I returned the black arrow to Bard both to show that the dragon was dead and to begin a relationship between Erebor and Dale. Bard is a descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale. He is also the greatest opposition to the Master, which will help you in the long run.

"Finally, you need time to deal with the Elves. Balin said we needed time to bury the dead, which the Elves must give us. Thranduil is claiming that the necklace he wants was for his wife before she passed. It is an utterly untrue excuse. She passed on years before he commissioned the necklace. He is just greedy and wants the white gems in the necklace. However, if you do not give the necklace to him, he will claim you cold-hearted and greedy for not letting him have the last thing connected to his wife."

Thorin said, "But that does not mean we will give him what has not been paid for."

Bella huffed. "Thorin, no one will care. It is an excuse for war. Thranduil is immortal. He needs to do something to break up the tedium. Now, you need to get over this desire of yours to die in glory and avoid war for as long as possible. Now, we have to…"

"What do you mean?" Thorin said.

"Oh for the love of…" Bella made her voice as gruff as possible. "'I'll go slay the dragon who killed my people. No one can fault me for trying to retake Erebor and at least I won't die in the Blue Mountains waiting to die of old age'." She spoke in her normal voice again. "I am not sorry about that. You are just going to have accept that you are not going to be a king that they sing battle ballads about and suffer through living as a loved old man. Why would Ilutavar and his creations make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can't protect themselves? You brought harm and not good to you people if you died before your time!"

The room fell unusually quiet. Bella blinked rapidly. "I thought… I thought that was… that was why you were here. No one sane would come up against a dragon." She swallowed hard. "I know… I thought it would be better to fight and die than live with the guilt if I didn't and…"

Thorin interrupted. "I would not have let harm come to the Company."

Bella nodded. "I know you think you could protect them, but trust me, there are consequences to actions made in pride. You may have died in battle, yes, but you probably would have… have had to watch your nephews die before you did or something equally as terrible. Now please, Thorin, I beg of you, you must think of how you will survive in the long run and not just your temporary pride."

Thorin crossed his arms over his chest. "And what are you thinking? You obviously have your own scheme in this."

Bella rolled her eyes. "Hardly. I'm a Hobbit. I'm thinking about food. I brought the snacks because I wanted the Elves and Men to think we had enough food so something that frivolous would not matter to our supplies. We may make it to December. Dain needs to come and resupply Erebor. We can't do that with an army between us and him. Not to mention it will take a few well-placed hits with a battering ram to take down the gate. It is an utter wreck. In a month's time, I can repair the gate so it could withstand anything the Elves or Men could hit us with if the other Dwarves helped me refine the structure. I'll start work today."

"Could it withstand a dragon?" Thorin said.

"No. I wouldn't even know how to begin to do that. Maybe if the gates were mithril, but that would require the reclaiming of Moria. There is not enough mithril here to make what we would need," Bella said.

Thorin nodded. "We'll make a plan then." He leaned down so they were eye to eye again. "Do not undermine Balin's authority as my representative again."

"Yes, sir," Bella said, "May I please go speak with the others so we can start making plans for the gate?"

Thorin motioned she could leave. Once she did, Thorin was simultaneously yelled at and comforted by his family for his pride.

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

That evening, Bofur came to the king in the common area of the royal quarters they had turned into their home base. "Have you seen Bella?"

"Not since this morning, no," Thorin said.

"I've asked everyone, but we can't find her," Bofur said.

"Maybe she has gone to the library. She likes it there," Thorin said.

"No, Ori said he hasn't seen her," Bofur said.

Bifur came running into the room. "The Hobbit has food! Bags and bags of food!"

Thorin and Bofur followed Bifur to the gates of Erebor. Half way there, they found Bella being followed by Fíli and Kíli with five bags between them.

"You! What were you doing?" Thorin shouted at his nephews.

"We didn't do anything, Bella just showed up with this," Fíli said.

"You undersized burglar! What did you do?" Thorin said.

Bella dropped the bags she was carrying. "I didn't steal anything. I gave a note to Bard. I had to deal with that wretched Alfrid as well. If he wasn't there, I would have gotten another bag of food and…"

"What did you promise them?"

"Nothing! I told them I was leaving you lot because I didn't want to stick around a bunch of…"

"Then what did you steal from us!" Thorin said.

Bella flinched. By then, all of the Dwarves were in the hallway. "I didn't steal anything. I keep telling you this."

Thorin motioned to the food. "Then how did you get this?"

"Well, the Men knew I was good for money when I gave them my silverware…"

"Your silverware?" Thorin said.

"Yes, the ones I was allowed to bring with me from the Shire? Didn't Balin tell you? Well anyway, I knew the gold frames would be worth…"

"The ones that held your parents' portraits?" Thorin said slowly as he realized what the Hobbit had done.

"It's not like I own other gold frames," Bella said. She frowned as the Dwarves around her sniffled. "What? Did I miss something?"

"You gave up items crafted by your people? Things from your family?" Thorin asked.

Bella blinked. "Of course. They're just things. My family would much rather I take care of my friends and feed them for another few weeks than have shiny things collecting dust."

"You cared for those things," Thorin said.

"Well, yes, but you're my Dwarves. Why wouldn't I take care of you?" Bella said.

Thorin pulled Bella into an embrace. She did not reciprocate, but also did not pull away. "What's going on?"

"You are always welcome in the halls of Erebor as a Dwarf-Friend," Thorin said as the Dwarves around him cheered.

Bella hesitantly returned the hug. "Thank you? Don't understand what all the fuss is about, but alright."

Thorin pulled away and smiled at her. "Thank you, Burglar."

She smiled back. "Hardly a Burglar if I pay back everyone."

"That's true," Nori added causing the others to laugh.

After that, the Hobbit was accepted as another member of the Company.

BbBbBbBbBbBbBb

A/N: Though I don't watch the show, there is a Game of Thrones reference in this chapter. It is a really good quote, guys.

Once again, all hail Arwen-Undomiel. You have been saving fanfic writers when it comes to Elvish since the LOTR movies came out. Bless your dear, nerdy heart.

You have to see this artwork. Isn't it gorgeous?