Benna swatted at the hand shaking her awake. "You cannot sleep all day lass." Balin said, throwing open the curtain.
"I could if people would stop trying to wake me up." She grumbled pulling the blanket over her head.
"Come now Benna you have to get ready for the feast," Balin threw open the last curtain. "And you have to be civil." He added as a small string of curses sounded from the bed.
"Why can't we just take their food and make for the mountain?"
Balin shook his head "We are on the master's terms for now, we need their aid. Now you better get up or I will send Dwalin in to drag you out." He said before shutting the door behind him. Benna groaned one last time before rolling out of the bed.
Just as the sun had begun to set, Benna strolled into the large common room of the house, Hiking up the long hem of the dress as she walked. The company stood waiting, all dressed in new clothes, some looking more happier than others. "Well it is bout time!" Gloin called out as she came into view.
She gave him a withering look "My clothes were a bit harder to get on than yours."
Thorin pushed the front door open "Let's go."
Fili took her arm in his as they departed "I think it was worth the wait."
…..
Benna watched as the large doors to the hall were pulled open in front of them, heralding their arrival. She shifted uncomfortably as all eyes in the hall became fixed on the company.
"Gee," She muttered "You'd think they had never seen a large group of dwarves, a hobbit, and a person from another world before."
Beside her Fili coughed trying to cover up his laugh.
"Fili." Thorin motioned for him to follow as he and Balin left for the high table.
He nodded to Thorin before turning back to Benna "Sorry Mithrim."
"Duty calls I suppose." She shrugged trailing off after Bofur as the rest of the company were guided to a long side table, settling into a chair beside Kili as the food was served. The company tucked hungrily into the meal, knowing it would probably be the last proper meal they had for a while. As she ate Benna cast a wary glance to the head table where the lake master and his assistant sat.
Kili nudged her with his elbow "You look tense."
"I'm not sure what it is but those guys set my teeth on edge." She cast another glance at the high table "Do you think they can be trusted?"
He looked over to the master for a moment then back at her. "No." He said finally "But we have been around worse on this journey."
Benna hummed "That's an understatement if I've ever heard one."
The plates were cleared away as music began to play from somewhere in the back of the hall. The mood turning more festive as the sound of drinking and laughter filled the air. "Come on!" Kili said, yanking her from her chair, dragging her towards the throng of people dancing in the center of the hall. Benna laughed as he swung her around, dancing out of step to the tune. "Well be changing partners soon." He informed her stepping to her side, grabbing hold of the woman next to her. Benna gave him a wink, watching him go as her new partner took her hand.
She suppressed the urge to snatch her hand back as Alfred stepped in front of her. "I hope you are having a lovely evening." He said, giving her a greasy smile.
"I've had worse." She said politely, trying to heed Balin's orders to be civil. She grimaced inwardly and a bit outwardly as she felt his hand slide down her lower back
"A lovely evening for a lovely woman."
Benna brought her foot down on top of his hard. He yelped, dropping his hands to grab his foot. "Oh my goodness," She said in an overly sweet tone "I'm so sorry. I don't know the steps to this song very well!". He waved a hand as he limped off the dance floor.
"That was not very civil." Fili whispered in her ear.
She turned to him with a grin as he took her hands, leading her around the dance floor "I think I have been around you guys too long to be civil anymore."
He looked at her skeptically "Mithrim you were not civil when we met you."
She gave him an affronted look as the song ended. "I can be plenty civil!" Benna said crossing her arms as they walked back to the table. "Right Bofur?" She asked plopping down into a chair. Bofur, Kili, and Gloin broke into a fit of laughter. She scowled at them.
"What's so funny then?" Dwalin asked, taking a seat next to Gloin.
Fili wrapped an arm around Benna's shoulder "Benna here thinks that being around us on this journey has made her uncivilized."
Dwalin raised an eyebrow "Lass I met you when you first came here, you are not exactly what I would call a docile person."
"Well I think you are a very kind person, civilized or not." Ori spoke up from beside her.
"Oh Ori I knew I liked you best for a reason!" Benna crooned slinging an arm around him.
"The lads right," Gloin chimed in "We like ya just as you are."
"Aye you wouldn't be half as much fun if you acted like a civilized lady." Kili nodded, setting down an arm full of mugs on the table. "For starters a civilized lady would refrain from a drinking contest!" He said placing two in front of her. Benna downed one, grinning as she reached for the second.
…
"Come on Kiki you need to keep up," Benna slurred as she stacked another empty mug on the table. "And you need to slow down." She scowled, jabbing a finger into Fili's chest.
He looked at her over the rim of his mug "That would defeat the point of a contest."
"Ya but I'm tired. And you three are drinking way too fast." She whined, gesturing to Dwalin and Bofur who were stacking up empty mug at a furious pace.
"Tap out then," Fili suggested. "You've already beaten Gloin and Ori." He nodded over to the two sleeping dwarves at the table.
"Never." Benna yawned, leaning her head against Ori's. Fili caught the mug as it slipped from her fingers.
"I'm tapping out for the both of us." He said, placing the mug on the table, scooping up Benna into his arms.
"And then there were three." Kili slurred, as Fili carried her from the table.
Benna stirred as the cold night air hit her face. She looked up at Fili "Did we win?"
He chuckled as he pushed the door to the house open "No I don't think we did".
She yawned sprawling out on the bed as he set her down "Well get 'em next time."
"I'm sure we will Mithrim" He agreed, tossing the blanket over her.
Benna curled into it. "Are you ever going to tell me what that means?" She mumbled. He leaned down brushing the hair from her face.
"My deepest treasure." He whispered, drawing the blanket up over her shoulders before putting out the candle.
...
Benna groaned as she woke, the morning sun filling the room. She tipped toed down the hall, judging by the chorus of snores she guessed that the rest of the company was still asleep. Quietly she made her way down the stairs and into the main room.
"Oh good morning Benna". She jumped, turning to see Bilbo sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a mug of tea.
"Jeeze Bilbo you nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"Sorry." He said sheepishly. She sat down next to him as he filled another cup handing it to her. After a few minutes they could hear the sound of feet on the stairs as one by one the company joined them in the kitchen.
"We are a few short." Balin observed, not seeing his brother, Bofur or Kili.
"After all the ale they had last night I would not be surprised if they do not wake until we reach the mountain." Fili snorted.
Benna's eyes lit up mischievously "I'll get them up!" She volunteered.
Thorin looked at her, not missing the glint in her eye. "It's on your head." He said with a sigh, as she grabbed two large pots off the counter.
Benna quietly crept up the stairs as the rest of the company gathered below to watch. As she reached the far side of the hall she creaked open the door to Kili's room slipping inside. There was a loud clang as she brought the pots together. Kili jumped out of his bed with a startled cry, tangling in the sheets, falling to the floor with a thud. She shut the door and ran to the next room up. Bofur was asleep under a small desk on the far side of the room. She brought the pots together again. He jolted upright, thumping his head against the bottom of the table. Benna laughed, jogging further up the hall, throwing open the door to Dwalin's room. There was another clang as she shouted "Wake up!". The warrior bolted upright knife at the ready, eyes darting around for danger. His eyes narrowed as the caught site of Benna, throwing off the sheets.
"Oh shit!" She said dashing from the room.
"Get back here!" He shouted.
Behind her she heard footsteps and turned to see Kili running after her holding his head in one hand. She raced down the hall nearly tripping down the stairs as she went. Below the rest of the company parted as she reached the landing, Kili and Dwalin not far behind with Bofur stumbling slowly after them. She ran to the table grabbing Bilbo pulling him in front of her.
"The hobbit is a poor choice for a shield, Beanie." Kili said, taking a step towards her. Benna moved to run again but their attention was caught by a knock at the front door. Balin opened the door.
"Your supplies have been loaded into the boats as requested." A man said as he took a step inside.
"Tell the master we will depart shortly," Thorin nodded dismissing the man. He turned to the company "Be ready to leave in the next few minutes. We must make for the mountain.". The company dispersed through the house as they made their preparations.
Benna moved towards the stairs only to have a hand close around her collar. "Do not think that we will let this slide." Kili leaned down with a devious smile. She gulped as he pulled his hand away, walking over to Thorin.
...
"I look like a little boy." Benna frowned looking down at her new cloths.
"Well that would be because those are probably little boys clothes you are wearing." Bofur said cheerily "Your too wee to fit anything else here."
She gave him a scowl, wishing the master would hurry up and finish his speech. She turned as she felt someone put a hand on her shoulder, surprised to see Bard looking intently at her. "Oh hello Bard," Benna smiled "I'm glad I ran into you, Here" She rummaged around her bag for a moment before pulling out the elvish dress "I was going to have one of the guards drop it off to you." She said handing it to him "It's not exactly suitable wear for a journey like this, but it seemed like a waste to just get rid of it. I thought it might fit Sigrid."
Bard raised his eyebrows as he took the dress "This is a kind gift. Thank you."
"Of course! Is everything ok?" Benna asked as he continued to stare at her.
"You must stop this quest," He said flatly "No good can come from entering that mountain. You will die."
She shook her head "I wouldn't stop them even if I could. They deserve a chance at getting their home back."
Bard looked at her intently "That dragon will bring death upon us all!"
She watched him carefully for a moment before slowly pushing her sleeve up, exposing her forearm "This mark," She said extending her arm to him "It is a sign of a blessing from the Valar. It means this quest is too important to fail."
Bard shook his head "Blessing or no it is still a dangerous gamble."
Benna shrugged, moving towards the boat "It's a gamble I'm willing to take."