Clill set a bowl of stew in front of Thorin as he sat down to eat and rest. He looked the most tired than she had seen him in years. Just how much rest or food had Thorin had before coming? She worried about him.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin?" Balin asked. "Did they all come?"
"Aye", Thorin sighed. "Envoys from all seven kingdoms."
"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say?" Dwalin asked. "Is Dain with us?"
Thorin laid his spoon in the bowl as he looked down. Clill put her hand on his shoulder knowing the answer.
"They will not come", he said. "They say this quest is ours and ours alone."
Everyone mumbled in their disappointment. They all thought Dain would answer to the call of his cousin, but it seemed Thorin was right. They would've answered to the keeper of the Arkenstone, but no Arkenstone, no answer.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked looked at everyone.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow", Gandalf said. "Let us have a little more light."
As Bilbo went to get another candle, Gandalf pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He laid it on the table, spreading it out for all to see.
"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
"The Lonely Mountain…" Bilbo read the map.
"Aye", Gloin nodded. "Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time."
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold", he explained. "When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
"What beast?" Bilbo asked.
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible", Bofur said nonchalant. "Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals."
"Yes, I know what a dragon is", he nervously answered.
"I'm not afraid!" Ori shouted standing up. "I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie."
"Enough of that", Clill stood looking at Ori. "You think you can take the dragon down yourself? You have no idea what you're up against, young lad. We have seen for ourselves the destruction this dragon has brought upon our people."
She glared at the foolish, naive Dwarf. The group went quiet, knowing all too well about Clill and Thorin's history with Smaug. They heard the story of the infant princess of Erebor lost to the dragon in the attack. Thorin looked at his wife and gently wrapped his fingers around her hand, trying to calm her down. Balin looked at her before speaking, acknowledging the fact that Erebor's own soldiers could not take down the dragon.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."
The Dwarves started clamoring, feeling insulted at Balin's statement.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters", Fili said. "All of us, to the last dwarf!"
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company", Kili added. "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
"Oh", Gandalf said startled. "Well, now, uh, I… wouldn't say that, I…"
Clill covered her face, shaking her head. Just what was Gandalf trying to pull? First, he sent Thorin on a wild goose chase, seeking help that would not come. Now, he claimed to help when he never even fought, not killed a dragon. The rest of the group started arguing among themselves about Gandalf's past with dragons.
"Shazara!" Thorin yelled in Dwarvish, silencing the group. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"
The Dwarves started cheering at the encouraging words of their leader. Clill gave a smile seeing how strong and ready her husband was to take on the dragon with the few they had in their company.
"You forget, the front gate is sealed", Balin said. "There is no way into the mountain."
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true", Gandalf said reaching into his sleeve.
Out of his sleeve, he held a key. Thorin looked at him in utter amazement, recognizing it from days of old.
"How came you by this?" he asked.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping", Gandalf said. "It is yours now."
As Gandalf handed him the key, all were silent. With this key, Thorin had accepted the kingdom into his own hands. He was now the rightful king of Erebor.
"If there is a key, there must be a door", Fili said.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls", Gandalf said pointing to the writing on the map.
"There's another way in!"
"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar", Ori explained.
"Hmm, a good one, too", Bilbo nodded understanding. "An expert, I'd imagine."
"And are you?" Gloin asked.
Everyone looked at Bilbo. The reason for their visit suddenly seemed so clear. They wanted him to join them on their quest against a dragon to be a burglar.
"Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life."
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins", Balin sighed. "He's hardly burglar material."
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves", Dwalin said.
The Dwarves started arguing among themselves again. Clill looked at Thorin worried. So far, nothing has shown that their quest was going to be a successful one. No help from any of Thorin's kin, no help from the only burglar Gandalf had in mind. What use was there for them to continue?
"Enough!" Gandalf yelled as he got to his feet. "If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."
Everyone looked at him speechless. This was the first time they had seen a Wizard use his power to silence everyone.
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet", Gandalf informed everyone. "In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fifteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this."
All was silent as Gandalf looked at Thorin to make the final decision.
"Very well", he said. "We will do it your way."
"No, no, no", Bilbo backed away.
"Give him the contract."
Balin reached into his pocket, pulling out a long contract as he unfolded the piece of paper, handing it to Bilbo to read and sign.
"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo asked worried.
As he looked over the contract, Thorin leaned in close to Gandalf.
"I cannot guarantee his safety", he whispered.
"Understood", Gandalf nodded.
"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."
"Thorin", Clill said as she leaned into the conversation. "Leave Mr. Baggins to me. I will look after him as long as possible. This, I can promise you."
They looked back as Bilbo reached the bottom of the contract, looking over what would be promised to him.
"Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof including but not limited to lacerations ... evisceration … incineration?"
"Oh, aye", Bofur ansered. "He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye."
Bilbo looked at them as he started breathing heavily. He started to break into a sweat.
"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked noticing he looked pale.
"Uh, yeah..." he murmured trying to get some air. "Feel a bit faint."
"Think furnace with wings", Bofur said adding to the anxiety.
"Bofur, that's enough", Clill glanced as she sat up.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! you're nothing more than a pile of ash."
Bilbo looked at them, as if he were thinking about it.
"Hmm…nope."
He collapsed on the floor in front of everyone. Gandalf and Clill got up and walked toward him.
"Very helpful, Bofur."
Clill wrapped her arms around Bilbo, dragging him to the den.
