Chapter 9
Gandalf quickly cleared his throat and suggested that everyone move into the dining room to eat dinner. At the prospect of food, almost everyone became considerably happier. Kelly however, was trying to hold back her sobs of joy as she thought over everything Dwalin had said. He still loved her and he didn't blame her for leaving! Bilbo clasped Kelly's hand in his and began pulling her towards the rest of group then tried to make sure that she was able to sit where she wanted. Fili and Kili, some of the younger members who had looked so horrified by Dwalin's story, invited her to sit between them and she graciously accepted. Bilbo then stood off to the side and stared in horror at the Dwarves eating habits. They were throwing food to one another, taking bites too big for their mouths, and talking to each when they were still chewing!
After a while of sitting and enjoying her meal, Kelly leaned back in her chair and simply watched all the Dwarves around her. Fili and Kili were actually quite funny for being so young, they joked about almost everything and it quickly became obvious that they had a bond with a strength only family had. Kelly tried to keep her eyes off Dwalin but she was failing miserably. She noticed that it only took a small while before he was laughing and joking with his kin and friends which made her almost burst with joy. He was happy, content, and he looked like he had moved to a better place without her. Kelly decided then and there that she would join this Company to keep Dwalin and Bilbo safe. Now that she knew he was alive, she gave her word that she would give anything, including her life, to keep Dwalin safe and healthy.
Kelly had spent so much time thinking of all the scenarios in which he could be hurt that she didn't notice Bilbo having a heated discussion with Gandalf about all the Dwarves in his home. She also didn't notice Fili and Kili start throwing plates and other dishes until one almost caught her on the side of her head. Balin laughed loudly as he noticed the young woman looking left and right in a startled fashion. Then the two young brothers started singing while throwing dishes, which Bifur was thankfully catching and washing, while his brother Bofur lead some other Dwarves in a rhythmic tapping and clanking of the forks and knives. Kelly closed her eyes and listened to all the sounds begin to come together as one song, smiling when she heard Bilbo fussing over his mother's dishes being thrown around. As the song ended Kelly opened her eyes to find all of Bilbo's dishes cleaned and stacked on the table neatly which caused her burst into laughter, all the Dwarves joining in seconds later. This was all interrupted by three loud, booming knocks on Bilbo's front door. The group became almost somber as Gandalf said "He is here."
Everyone quickly moved to the entryway and waited for the door to be opened. Kelly did her best to stay towards the back of the group, almost hiding behind Fili and Kili who were quite tall by Dwarvish terms. She did manage to see who had entered and her poor heart almost stopped as she watched Thorin Oakenshield remove his outer coat while speaking to Gandalf. Flashbacks of her time at the mountain came quickly and Kelly reminisced on all the times she and Thorin had gotten caught in a discussion while she was waiting for Dwalin to finish his guard duties. Thorin had often been proud to call her a wonderful friend and had occasionally come to her for advice about his princely duties. She was brought harshly back to the present time by hearing Thorin talking badly about Bilbo right to his face.
"He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thorin said scathingly while looking at Gandalf as if to ask if he was serious. Seeing that the wizard did intend to bring this Hobbit along, Thorin began looking at his fellow Dwarves. Gandalf had told him to expect another member of the company who could be of much assistance and he hoped the wizard was right. "You told me you would find us another member besides this soft Hobbit, wizard. Where is he?" Thorin froze as he felt the unmistakable sharpness of a blade being pressed against his back and a head set itself on his shoulder. "He did find you another member for your Company and she is standing right here. She is also good friends with the Hobbit and does not appreciate you speaking to him in such a way." The pressure of the knife disappeared and Thorin turned around slowly to see a woman covered head to toe with a cloak. He could not see her face but he knew from her voice that she must be beautiful. In fact, that voice brought back memories, but of what he could not remember.
Kelly watched as Thorin went from looking insulted to curious in only a few minutes. "You seem familiar to me, who are you?" Gandalf answered before Kelly had even opened her mouth. "Thorin, this is an old friend of mine and she will be accompanying us on our journey. I assure you that she is one of the best warriors I have had the pleasure of meeting." Kelly stood a little taller at that compliment then nodded once to prove it was true. She then had an idea and though it was risky, it might make Thorin more comfortable with her joining.
"I will show you my face in private if you desire Master Oakenshield, if you would please follow me." With that, she turned around and marched to her room then paused and turned to beckon to the Dwarf King. He quickly followed, keeping all his weapons attached in case this mysterious woman tried anything dangerous. Once the door was shut and locked, Kelly turned towards Thorin who stood in the middle of the room with his feet should-width apart and his arms crossed. "Oh please Thorin, I'm not going to run you through with a sword. If I planned on killing you, I wouldn't do it in a Hobbits home." Thorin huffed a bit and had just opened his mouth to make a retort when the woman threw her hood back. "Kelly?!" Thorin gasped as he stumbled a few feet back while staring at the beautiful woman before him. He noticed the horrible scar on the right side of her face but to him, she was still as beautiful as he remembered. "We thought you dead! Dwalin thought you had left him forever! Who gave you that mark? Tell me now so that Dwalin and I may hunt them down and avenge you!" Kelly quickly crossed the room and covered Thorin's mouth in an attempt to keep him from being so loud. She didn't want Dwalin knowing who she was yet; she didn't want him to worry about her on this journey as she knew he would. "Thorin hush! Stop such ridiculous words, I am here now. That is all that should matter and I would appreciate you keeping your voice down!" The woman then embraced her old friend in a tight hug and smiled when he returned the gesture. "This mark is something I acquired the evening I left the mountain, Thorin. It doesn't bother me and I do not wish for the culprit to be hunted down."
The King looked confused for a moment before horror crossed his face and put the woman at arm's length, running his finger down her scarred cheek. "Dwalin did this to you?" Kelly nodded quickly then began to explain how it happened, just as she had to Bilbo. She then told Thorin, "I do not wish for him to know I am here. I spent our years apart thinking that he hated me, and then thinking he died when Erebor fell. I am not yet ready to face him and I will not distract him from this journey. I do not want him to be any less focused than he normally would be." It was then that Thorin remembered exactly why he had been such good friends with this woman. She would put Dwalin before her personal happiness because as long as he was alive, she would have time to fix things.