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Dialogue
Westeros: "speech"/ 'thought'
Middle-earth: "speech"/ 'thought'
""Elvish""
"*Dwarvish*"
""Black Speech""
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or the Hobbit Trilogy.
'He's alive. Lya's boy-my boy is alive!'
Ned Stark could hardly believe that the ranger Strider was actually Jon, and couldn't help but notice how much he had grown since the last time he saw him all those years ago. From what Robb had told the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, Robb, Jon, and Theon were chased by these 'orcs' until Theon got injured and Jon willingly chose to lure the creatures away so that the others could escape.
Hearing how Robb believed Jon did so only because of his perceived bastard status had broken Ned's heart, the Lord of Winterfell should have done better for his sister's son. He made a promise to his sister, and he broke it. He failed Lyanna by not being there for her son.
Once he saw the devastated looks on the faces of Sansa and Arya, Ned immediately wiped the tears from his eyes. Neither of them had ever seen him cry before, so Ned had anticipated this kind of reaction. Bran had once seen him cry one time in the godswood, and his son swore to never tell anyone. At least one of them was able to keep their promise.
"You alright, Ned?" Robert asked, clearly concerned for his dear friend.
"I am fine, your grace. I am just happy to know both of my sons are alive and well," Ned replied to his friend.
Robert nodded before taking a good look at the flame, then looking back to Lord Stark.
"Seven Hells! He's your spitting image, Ned! Gods! Our bastards look so much like us, when we were lads," the king said with pride in his voice.
Even Jon Arryn had to take a double look, before letting out a chuckle.
"His grace is right, Ned. The boy is your spitting image," Jon Arryn complimented his former ward.
After all, Jon Snow is named after him. The Hand of the King was touched to know that Ned named one of his sons after him, trueborn or not.
The two brothers stood not even a foot away from each other, before running into each other's arms and wrapping one another into a tight bearhug, not caring if they were weeping, nor did they say anything.
Those in Bag End who were watching the tearful reunion between brothers who were apart for nearly a decade brought a tear to Dori's eye, who quickly wrapped his arms around Nori and Ori; the three brothers couldn't imagine the thought of losing one another. Neither could Fíli or Kíli, both turning to one another, the thought of losing each other would be heartbreaking, to say the least.
The same could be said for Óin and Glóin, both were touched by this and the thought crept onto them when the day came when one of them would die. Balin and Dwalin smiled at the brotherly reunion. Nine years was a long time in human years and that's something dwarves often forget.
Margaery and Loras however, were happy at the reunion between the two brothers.
Though from afar the hall, Theon had a look of jealousy and resentment in his eyes, which did not go unnoticed by Thorin Oakenshield, and the one called Shadow.
After watching the reunion of his two boys Ned turned to Mace Tyrell. Who would have thought the Lord of Highgarden would believe that Jon was alive when he had doubts himself.
"Thank you, Mace Tyrell, for believing that my son was still alive. Even when I had my doubts from what we heard," Ned sincerely said to Mace Tyrell.
The Lord of Highgarden was touched by the comment.
"We both lost two children, Lord Stark, it only seemed fair yours should be alive as well," Mace Tyrell told Ned.
It was shocking, to say the least, to Jon Arryn. Both men were on opposite sides during Robert's Rebellion and now, they are the most formal to one another so far.
"Jon truly does look like you Father," Sansa said to Ned, shocked when she saw her half-brother fully grown.
Sansa was the only one to have some memories of both Robb and Jon out of the younger children. Hearing her mother wish that Jon was dead caused a strain in their relationship, and her father bringing Alys Karstark to be fostered in Winterfell may have helped the eldest Stark daughter to remember her roots as a Stark of Winterfell.
Arya, however, was delighted upon seeing her older brother, Jon Snow, smiling at the fact they both have a strong resemblance to one another. And to her own amusement, Arya could have sworn she saw Lyra blush briefly when Jon's face was revealed.
Bran turned to her with a grin on his face.
"At least you are not the only one who takes after father," Bran said to Arya.
Though the youngest Stark daughter would take offense whenever Sansa would say such things, she allowed it when Bran did. Back when the Stark sisters were at each other's throats, Sansa would always mock her for looking more like their father. Bran however always said it like it was a good thing, and Lyanna Mormont always backed him up.
"Your sister says that out of envy, for she takes after your southern mother."
However, while most of the crowd were watching the appearance of Jon Snow, Oberyn, Jaime, and Ser Barristan could have sworn that they saw someone else besides Lord Eddard Stark in Jon Snow.
"Why is he called Strider?" Arya asked.
Bran shrugged his shoulders in response.
"It's most likely his title as a ranger," Lyra Mormont told her.
Once Jon and Robb released each other from the bearhug, both were just delighted to see one another.
"How?" Robb asked his brother in disbelief.
Jon took a deep breath before beginning to explain.
"I noticed they don't like the sun, so I did my best to make sure the sun was out when they were on my tail. After a good day or two running north, I was found by rangers of the North. They took me in and trained me as if I were their own. Some time ago, Gandalf asked the rangers to travel with Thorin Oakenshield to a meeting of the dwarf houses, so they sent me and my friend here to take their place," Jon told Robb, nodding his head towards his companion.
Everyone gathered at the door turned to look at the woman-ranger, who proceeded to remove her hood. Revealing a strapping young woman with black hair and deep blue eyes. Oddly enough, this woman appeared to have some resemblance to Gendry.
"Hello there! Mya Stone at your service," the woman introduced with a slight curtsy.
Jon Arryn let out a gasp as the woman-ranger revealed herself to be Mya Stone, the eldest of Robert's bastard children.
The girl had vanished one day in the mountains while training to become a guide. Jon Arryn had every corner of the Vale searched from top to bottom, but no one could find her. Now he understood why it was so.
"Jon? Is that truly my little Mya?" asked Robert in a hopeful tone.
When word had reached him of Mya's disappearance, Robert had nearly gone mad with worry. In his hysteric rage, he had nearly destroyed the entire Small Council chamber.
"Yes, Robert. I am certain that it is her," said Jon Arryn.
"Gods, look at her! She's got to be about three-and-twenty now," said Robert happily. He was just glad that his first child was alright, and better still, that she was close to Ned's boy.
"She should be about four-and-twenty now, your grace," said Jon Arryn with a smile.
Once Mya had made her introduction, everyone in the room stared at her with mouths agape, while many were looking back and forth between Mya and Gendry.
"Pardon me? But...um...would you happen to be related to King Robert Baratheon?" asked Samwell, finally breaking the silence.
"Yes. He is my father. Though I can barely remember him," said Mya in a somewhat somber tone. Before continuing in a lighter mood. "Like Jon, I too was waylaid by orcs, before being rescued by the rangers of the North. I trained alongside him in their ways, becoming a ranger myself at the age of seven-and-ten. Jon would follow me in a couple of years at six-and-ten. We've become quite the team."
While everyone else was amazed by Mya's revelation, Robb was just happy to see his brother and just smiled at him.
"Guess Uncle Benjen isn't the only ranger in the family?" Robb said to Jon.
"That he isn't," answered Jon, smiling back.
Loras is the first to introduce himself to Jon, given his fast friendship with Robb, he should befriend his brother as well.
"I'm Loras Tyrell. I only knew Robb for a little over a month and he mentioned you a handful of times, so it's a pleasure to meet you, Jon," Loras greeted Jon while ignoring his bastard name.
"Pleasure to meet you as well, Loras," He said to Loras.
Bilbo decided to greet him as well.
"I'm Bilbo Baggins. Welcome to Bag End," Bilbo said to Jon, who smiles at his kindness.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mister Baggins. And I must say, you have quite the lovely home," Jon replied. To which the hobbit smiled proudly.
"I'm Margaery Tyrell. It is good to hear that your brother is not alone Jon," Margaery greeted him sincerely. Like Loras, she too did not bring up his bastard name.
"Pleasure to meet you, my lady," Jon politely greeted back.
Gandalf then decided to apologize to Jon.
"My apologies, Jon. It slipped my mind how quiet you and Mya can be," Gandalf sincerely apologized to Jon. Only for the ranger to brush it off.
"Nothing to apologize for Gandalf. Dressing in dark clothes in the dark was perhaps not the wisest decision for either of us," Jon said to the wizard, easily forgiving Gandalf.
Hearing how Jon was found by a group of rangers made Ned feel relieved. He owed a great debt to whoever took in his sister's son.
"Thinking about these rangers who saved our bastards and took them in, Ned?" King Robert asked, seeing his friend's look was in deep thought.
"Aye, flattered as I am for these rangers for taking him in, I owe them greatly," Ned replied to his friend.
This seems to have disgusted Lysa, without warning she turned her direction to her brother-in-law.
"Why should you owe these 'rangers' for sheltering your filthy bastard? Why should you owe those who saved the insult to my sister, to my house!" Lysa screamed at him.
Jon Arryn and the Blackfish shook their heads in shame of Lysa's comment, though Cersei and Jaime grinned at the mad trout for putting Lord Eddard Stark down a peg, Lord Stark simply turned to her.
"It was war, Lady Lysa. I was angry about the loss of my father, my brother, my sister in Rhaegar's grasp. Being forced to marry a woman who was meant for my brother Brandon. My anger boiled upon your father, who would not aid us in ridding the Mad King off his throne unless I wed your sister in my dead brother's place," Lord Stark said to Lysa with such anger, Arya, Bran, and Sansa cowered upon hearing the ever raising anger in their father's voice.
Lysa and even Edmure felt the coldness in his voice, and Catelyn was in tears knowing how true her husband's words were. Olenna could be seen with a grin on her face, she was enjoying herself with Lysa Arryn being put in her place, especially the look of fear in the mad woman's eyes. Even Oberyn could be seen smirking at the spectacle before him. As a father himself, he was quite protective of his children. And though Ned fought for Robert during the Rebellion, he was the most outspoken for demanding justice for Elia and her children's murder, which had earned him Oberyn's respect.
"Your father did not see you or your sister as his daughters. He only saw you both as pawns for power. My anger clouded me during the war, and I will not have Jon be punished for my actions," Ned said in anger towards Lysa Arryn.
Standing inches away from Lysa, like earlier she is cowering behind Jon Arryn, giving his foster father a look of disappointment in his eyes.
"So do your best and remember Lady Lysa, wolves eat trout when they leap too high off the waters," Ned said to his sister-in-law, before sitting back down.
Looking insulted, Lysa turned to Jon Arryn.
"Why did you not defend me, husband?! That savage barbarian just threatened me!" Lysa shrieked at Jon Arryn, who just shook his head tiredly and in shame of his wife's behavior.
"You are an embarrassment to the Tully name," Blackfish said harshly to Lysa. But not before he glanced at both Edmure and Catelyn while saying it.
The flames then show Gendry, having heard that Mya is his half-sister, quickly walking towards her to introduce himself.
"H-hi…I'm Gendry, I'm King Robert's bastard son," Gendry told Mya with a slight stammer.
Jon, who was surprised at the reveal, turned to Robb who gave his brother a simple nod. Mya, on the other hand, took the reveal in stride.
"Aye, I figured as much. You may not have much of a beard yet, but there is no doubt you are our father's son," Mya said before suddenly hugging Gendry, who was caught off guard.
"It's good to finally meet you, little brother," she softly whispered. And with those words, Gendry returned the hug in earnest.
Robert couldn't help but shed a tear as he watched his two bastard children embrace each other. While he was not as familiar with Gendry as he would have liked, Mya was his first child. The first, and only one of his children that he ever truly cared for.
Sure, Robert acknowledged Edric as his son and had Renly foster him at Storm's End, but he didn't have a relationship with him, or even with any of his trueborn children for that matter. Cersei saw to that, gods damn her. Even with Edric, Robert didn't acknowledge him out of love, not the way Ned did for his boy. Robert acknowledged him because he had to. Because Edric's mother was highborn and the Florents would have raised merry hell if he hadn't.
But Mya? Robert had a real relationship with Mya. He truly loved that little girl. It never did sit right with Robert, leaving her behind in the Vale to fend for herself. But what choice did he have, really? Robert was the King, he had a new wife and that wife wanted to make sure it was her children and her children alone that would be seen at court. So he all but abandoned his daughter.
But seeing Mya with Gendry also made Robert feel happier than he ever had in years. Something that Ned, Jon Arryn, and his brothers noticed, but chose not to address.
Once brother and sister finished hugging each other, Jon decided to introduce himself to the younger Baratheon bastard.
"Jon Snow. Our fathers are best friends," Jon said in his strong northern accent. Something the dwarves noticed that Jon shared with Robb.
Gendry smiled at the fact their fathers were best friends.
"Sam and Margaery told me about our fathers," Gendry said while pointing out Sam and Margaery.
Both of them wave back to Gendry at the mention of them. Jon let out a light chuckle in response.
"I remember hearing stories of their time together in the Vale by my father when I was a boy," Jon said.
The mention of their father made Robb smile, fondly recalling those moments with his father when he and Jon were young.
"All I heard is that they fought together...and won," Gendry jokingly responded to Jon.
Bofur could be seen smiling at the scene, Bombur patted his brother's back.
"That is true. They won two rebellions together," Jon said to Gendry.
Gendry couldn't help but smile at Jon's comment, while Thorin and Company were rather impressed by the fact that their fathers led two successful rebellions, with Fíli and Kíli openly displaying looks of awe on their faces. Bofur was grinning ear-to-ear at the news.
All the while, Theon could be seen from afar looking insulted, recalling the failed Greyjoy Rebellion both Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark crushed. Mya noticed Theon glaring at Jon and Gendry, but chose not to act upon it. Yet.
Gendry noticed the sword at Jon's side.
"You use a sword huh? I prefer a hammer," Gendry stated to Jon as he glanced at his war hammer that is leaning by a nearby wall.
Jon couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Gendry truly was King Robert's bastard, wielding a war hammer just like the stories of Robert he had heard.
"Seems we took everything from our fathers, but the name," Jon said to Gendry, who let out a laugh.
Robb can be seen looking happy for his brother, knowing he wasn't the only bastard from Westeros in Middle-Earth.
"Our fathers trusted each other. Why shouldn't we? Us bastards need to stick together," Gendry said to him, offering his hand to shake.
A couple of seconds later, Jon took Gendry's hand, for the ranger knew his newfound friend was right.
"Us bastards, need to stick together," Jon said to Gendry, the two shaking hands with both having smiles on their faces. As the two young men shook hands, Mya smiled at them while her eyes seemed to have a knowing look about them.
While this was happening, Bilbo could be seen looking baffled by Thorin's comment about him being more of a grocer than a burglar, with a few of the dwarves snickering at their leader's remark.
Robert had a proud look on his face, never had he looked this joyful in such a long time in Cersei's eyes. Not the usual joyful look when he either was drunk or wanted a whore to fuck, it was a genuine look of happiness.
"Are you well Robert?" She said nervously, she may hate the man with all her heart, but she is not going to make it seem so to others.
"Well? Of course, I am. Ned's boys are alive," Robert said to her as if it should be a big deal.
Before she can even answer, Robert turned his attention to Ned.
"Look at them, Ned. Our bastards are just like us back when we were in the Vale," the King said proudly, Ned couldn't help but smile at his old friend's comment.
Though only Ned Stark knew of the irony in Jon and Gendry's words. Gendry's father Robert killed Rhaegar, Jon's actual father, and he was going to keep that fact a secret till the end of his days. Ned had made a promise to his sister, to keep her child safe, and by the gods old and new he was going to keep it. All the Lord of Winterfell hoped, for now, was that Jon does not fall for Daenerys.
"They truly are, your grace," Ned replied to his dear friend.
Jon Arryn was stunned at how much Gendry and Jon Snow seemed to resemble their fathers. It was like going back in time to the Hand of the King, and he smiled fondly at the moment they met.
"They really do remind me of the two of you, during your days in the Vale. They are nearly your spitting images," Jon Arryn told his old foster sons
Robert and Ned smile fondly at his comment.
"Thank you, Jon Arryn," Ned then laughed at Ned's response.
"Modest as always, Ned. But Jon is right, it's like looking back into the past," King Robert told Ned.
While the two old friends were conversing with one another, Sansa was shocked and hurt by Thorin's insult towards Bilbo.
"Thorin is being rude! He is a guest in Bilbo's home and yet he insults him," Sansa said.
Though feeling pity for the hobbit, who did not want the dwarves at his home, Tyrion had to counteract Sansa's comment.
"Lady Sansa, it was Gandalf who invited them to Bag End. And as for the burglar remark… I believe Gandalf is going to hire Bilbo to join whatever the adventure 'Thorin and Company' are going on," Tyrion explained to Sansa, who began to understand what he was getting at.
As they entered the dining room, Theon turned to Jon with an arrogant smirk on him.
"Good to see you, Snow," He said with mockery in his voice, while trying to look down on him.
Jon simply glared at the ironborn, clearly insulted at Theon's words, but chose to remain silent. Only making the ironborn's arrogant grin widen.
Unfortunately for Theon, Mya had observed his confrontation with Jon and decided that a little payback was in order. Just as Theon was about to sit down, Mya pretended to slip, allowing her to move Theon's chair slightly to the side.
Everyone in the dining room watched as Theon slipped comically off of his chair onto the floor, making some of the dwarves laugh at Theon.
"I think this wee lad's drunk too much ale," Bofur said aloud to the other dwarves who burst out with laughter.
Theon poorly hides his anger with a smirk to laugh it off, seeing the smirk on Mya's face, before she turned her attention to Jon and gave him a friendly wink. One that Jon was all too happy to return.
Arya however was angry at Theon's comment and behavior towards Jon.
"Theon's an ass," Arya muttered, of which Bran and Lyanna agreed on.
Robert, like the children, was angry at the ironborn for mocking his best friend's son, though his mood changed when Mya made a fool out of Theon.
"Serves that squid right!" King Robert boasted with a massive roar of laughter.
Though Asha was angry at how Theon was being mocked, a sentiment shared by her father, she also felt humiliated by her brother's arrogant behavior.
With everyone sitting in the dining room, Thorin could be seen at the end of the table, eating a bowl of soup and bread Daenerys had left for him.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked Thorin.
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms," Thorin responded out loud.
Many of the dwarves murmured in excitement while sporting looks to match. Then Dwalin leaned towards Thorin.
"And what do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" He asked Thorin in anticipation.
Thorin's face dropped before he responded.
"They will not come," Thorin answered.
Many of the dwarves, and some of the humans, groaned bitterly at the news.
"They say that this quest is ours, and ours alone," Thorin said to them all.
The mention of 'quest' got Bilbo, Robb, Loras, Domeric, and Theon curious for they were not aware of the whole story. Sam, Gendry, Arianne, Margaery, and Daenerys on the other hand, could be seen looking sad towards the dwarves, knowing how much the quest meant to them. Now that they will have no aid and are their own.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked curiously.
Bilbo's question seemed to have already been answered when no one answered.
"Bilbo? Let us have a little more light," The wizard asked him.
As Bilbo left the dining room to fetch a light, Gandalf brought out a map for everyone to see. Robb, Domeric, Loras, and Theon began to focus more on the conversation.
"Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak," Gandalf began explaining to everyone.
While unfolding the map, Bilbo, who had returned with a candle, leaned in between Gandalf and Thorin, getting a closer look at the map.
"The Lonely Mountain," Bilbo said aloud.
The map shows a large and lonely mountain, while a painting of a red dragon breathing fire from above can be seen.
"The Lonely Mountain?" Mace Tyrell said with such curiosity.
"Did anyone else see the dragon above it?" Arya said in an equally curious tone.
This did gather everyone's attention once Arya said it, though her mother shook her head in disbelief.
"Dragons are extinct, Arya," Catelyn quickly told her daughter.
Though Tyrion stepped in and defended Arya.
"In our realm perhaps. But what of this Middle-Earth? We don't know the story on why these dwarves are so set on this Lonely Mountain," Tyrion said.
Though Arya was happy that Tyrion came to her aid, even Bran was starting to show concern.
"I hope they don't have to fight it. It looks big," Bran said with worry.
Robert saw the look on the face of his best friend's son.
"They have a wizard among them, boy. Your brothers and my bastards will be fighting side by side. If they're anything like me and your father, they will kill the wretched beast," Robert boldly said to the boy.
Bran appeared to have been cheered up by it, though Ned looked worried as well but chose not to say it.
"A dragon. Let's hope it'll be easier to kill than the ones House Targaryen had hundreds of years ago," Olenna mutters. Not wanting her two youngest grandchildren to go on a suicidal quest that involves a dragon of all things.
The flames show the dwarves beginning to discuss the situation with the Lonely Mountain.
"Aye. Óin has read the portents. And the portents say it is time," Glóin said as some of the dwarves rolled their eyes at his words.
As Glóin finished speaking, Gandalf used his magic to light his pipe.
"Ravens have seen flying back to the Mountain as it was foretold," Óin said seriously before he began to recite a prophecy. "When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
Robb, Domeric, Loras, and Theon glanced at one another with confusion and worry. The mention of 'the beast' clearly did not mean a good thing. Meanwhile, Bilbo, who had returned the candle to its place, felt the same way.
Leading the hobbit to get curious and walk back to the dining room.
"Uh…what beast?" He said to the group.
Bofur, who is smoking a pipe, turned to the hobbit and answered him.
"Oh, that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible. Chiefest and Greatest Calamity of our age," Bofur said. The dwarf took a puff from his pipe before he continued.
"Airborne firebreather. Teeth like razors. Claws like meathooks. Extremely fond of precious metals," Bofur finished.
Robb, Domeric, Loras, and Theon were further confused until Bilbo spoke up yet again.
"Yes, I know what a dragon is!" Bilbo replied to Bofur.
Hearing that this 'Smaug the Terrible' was a dragon shocked Robb, Domeric, Loras, and Theon. A dragon! In Middle-Earth! Robb turned to Jon bearing a look of disbelief, who simply nodded at his older half-brother. Loras did the same to Margaery, who gave her brother a similar nod.
The people of Westeros couldn't believe what they just heard. An actual dragon was under that mountain!
"What in the seven hells did they get themselves into," Olenna spat in annoyance. Not liking the thought of her grandchildren going up against a damn dragon without an army.
"I know the feeling, Lady Olenna," Ned said to the queen of thorns.
Olenna turned to Lord Stark and gave him a nod of approval at his words. She had almost forgotten that she wasn't the only one in the Dragon Pit who had kin in Middle-Earth.
"If killing a dragon makes the piglet a man, then so be it," Randyll said harshly about his son.
Dickon, Talia, and their mother were seen trying to hide the anger that they felt for Randyll for making that comment. Ned Stark however was not so inclined to hide his anger.
"You truly are a heartless bastard when it comes to your children, Lord Tarly," Ned said to the lord of Horn Hill. His voice was like the growl of the dire wolf that was the sigil of House Stark.
Everyone turned to Ned Stark yet again. He has been one of the most vocal since they had gotten here, and Lord Tarly turned to him trying to intimidate the Lord of Winterfell, but it did not work.
"I will have no firstborn son of mine be a fat, pathetic weakling who prefers books over swords," Randyll spat back to Ned Stark.
"I would rather have a son who prefers a book over fighting, for I am not so eager to march them to their deaths," Ned spat back to Randyll.
This comment made Mace Tyrell smile at Ned Stark, given his own heir Willas is bookish as well after becoming crippled. Garlan, as well, showed respect towards Lord Stark for his words. As he stood up to berate the Tarly lord as well, his grandmother beat him to the punch.
"My eldest grandson Willas is bookish as well, Lord Tarly. Do you think so lowly of him as well? Your liege Lord's heir?" Olenna questioned Lord Tarly rather heatedly.
Randyll Tarly knew he had put himself into a corner and that his fight with the Tyrell's was pointless, so he sat back down fuming.
Olenna grinned at her minor win while turning towards Ned Stark.
"Who would have thought a 'filthy savage barbarian' shows more love for his children than some of us southern folk," Olenna said out loud to the group around her, while mainly referring to Randyll Tarly.
Robert just laughed at the humiliation of Randyll Tarly, who was also the only reason the Targaryens once bested him in the Rebellion years ago.
"Who's the fool now, Tarly?!" Robert mocked the lord of Horn Hill.
Renly could be seen laughing at his brother's remark and a few others joined him. Even Stannis let out a chuckle or two.
Before the four young men could properly react or process the information, Ori stood up trying to show courage.
"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!" Ori proudly said around his older peers.
"Good lad Ori!" His brother Nori said to him with pride in his voice. Their elder brother Dori however did not like Nori encouraging their little brother.
"Sit down!" Dori told Ori, sounding more like a parent than a brother, pulling the youngest dwarf down to his seat.
Though Sam and Daenerys smiled at Ori for trying to show some courage.
"Way to show some courage Ori," said Arianne, while patting Ori on the back. To which Ori gratefully smiled.
"Thank you, Ari."
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best. Nor brightest," Balin said to the group.
Some of the dwarves were offended by his statement.
"Eh! Who are you calling dim?" shouted Nori.
"What did he say?" Óin asked around, with his ear trumpet raised.
The fighting stops when Fíli slammed his hand onto the table, looking around them.
"We may be few in numbers. But we're fighters. All of us! To the last dwarf!" Fíli said to the company, hitting the table again.
Kili looked around the group as well and pointed out the humans around them.
"And you're forgetting that we have the race of Men with us here. Margaery is one of the finest warriors we have," Kíli pointed to Margaery, praising her in a brotherly fashion.
Facing Sam and Gendry, the duo were trying to lay low, but Kíli quickly noticed them.
"And Sam is just as smart as Óin when it comes to medicine, and just as good with an axe as Glóin. And Gendry is one of the strongest in our company and a dwarf in all but height!" Kili said, praising them both, before spotting Daenerys.
"And Daenerys is one of the brightest among us. And just as skilled with a sword as Margaery," Kili added.
The mention of her name made Daenerys smile before Kíli turned his attention to Arianne.
"And last but certainly not least, we have Arianne! The finest spearwoman in the land! And just as good with a sword!"
"Clever as a falcon, fast as a hawk, and strong like an eagle," said Nori with pride. Touched by his words, Arianne gave Nori a grateful smile.
Fíli joined in again, spotting Robb, Domeric, Loras, and Theon behind them.
"We also have three warriors from Gondor and a rider of Rohan among us as well," Fili said, bringing up the four men.
"As well as two rangers of the North," Gendry added, not wanting to forget Jon and Mya.
Bofur couldn't help but chuckle at his foster son's fast comradery with the rangers.
"And you all forget, we have a wizard in our company! Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time," Kili spoke up yet again.
Gandalf quickly raised his hand.
"Oh well no, um… I wouldn't say…" Gandalf tried to explain. Only for Dori to speak up.
"Well, how many? How many dragons have you killed?" The dwarf asked the wizard.
Thorin too turned to Gandalf's direction once Dori said it. But the wizard's only reply was to choke on the smoke he had inhaled.
As everyone is eager for Gandalf to answer them, Robb turned to Domeric, Loras, and Theon, all three beginning to wonder if Gandalf truly killed anything in his long life.
"Go on! Give us a number." Dori said, wanting an answer.
Once Gandalf did not answer them, the dwarves got riled up and things began to escalate.
Bilbo tried in vain to get the dwarves to settle down, then Thorin stood up and roared at the rabble before him.
"*NO MORE!*" Thorin yelled in the dwarvish tongue.
Within seconds, the dining room was silent.
All of the people gathered before the flames were immediately impressed by how quickly Thorin brought order to the room.
"Thorin must either be their lord or their king," Tyrion said after seeing how quiet the company was.
"I believe you are right, Lord Tyrion," Bran agreed, recalling how the bannermen of the North would act the same way when his father raised his voice.
Tyrion noticed how Bran briefly turned to his father. "You speak through experience, Bran?"
"Father was in a similar position with his bannerman. He started having me attend some of his meetings a year ago," Bran nervously admitted.
Impressed with the Lord of Winterfell, Tyrion raised a brow then turned to Ned Stark.
"I meant no offense Lord Stark, that is quite fascinating to hear," Tyrion sincerely admitted to Lord Stark.
Garlan however was curious about what Kíli meant when he said Margaery was a skilled warrior.
"I wonder how skilled Margaery is with a sword?" Garlan asked in a tone of curiosity in his voice.
Agreeing with his son's words, Mace replied, "Perhaps we will see, Garlan".
While the Tyrells were questioning Margaery's skill at arms, the Martells were quite pleased with hearing how Arianne was quite skilled with a spear. Obara was practically singing the praises of her cousin, while her sisters were shaking their heads in amusement.
Arya was just grinning alongside Lyanna, both even saw Lyra with a half-smirk.
"Margaery has nothing on Dacey," Lyanna whispered to Arya. Making both girls giggle at the mention of Dacey Mormont in combat, one of Arya's favorite northerners back home.
"If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too?" Thorin stated to the group in front of him.
"Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen in 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain. Assessing. Wondering. Weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected," Thorin said with a fierce tone in his voice.
The mention of wealth got Theon's full attention, something Jon noticed right away, causing him to shake his head at the ironborn's action. Jon was not the only one who noticed, for Mya and Margaery saw the look on Theon's face as well.
"Do we sit back and let others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor!" Thorin declared with great eagerness in his voice, rallying many in the room to celebrate joining the quest to take back Erebor. Only for Daenerys to stand up recalling something Balin told her years ago.
"Thorin. Isn't the front gate sealed?" Daenerys asked him.
Thorin sighed, having forgotten all about it, and many of the dwarves followed suit.
"Aye. Daenerys speaks true. There is no way into the mountain," Balin concluded while giving a small smile to Daenerys for remembering her studies on his culture.
"That my dear Balin is not entirely true," Gandalf said while reaching in his pocket to unveil a dwarven key.
Thorin was shocked to see the key in Gandalf's hands before his expression turned to one of amazement.
"How came you by this?" Thorin finally asked the wizard.
"It was given to me by your father. By Thráin. For safekeeping. It is yours now," Gandalf explained to Thorin before handing the key to him.
The dwarf leader took the key and held it in reverence, before pocketing it away. While everyone watched as the key was given to Thorin, Fíli had come to a realization.
"If there is a key. There must be a door."
Hearing this made Margaery raise a brow at her friend and foster brother's words, along with Sam.
Gandalf then used his pipe to point at the illustration of a pointing finger on the map, with a set of runes underneath.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls," the wizard explained.
"There's another way in," Kíli said with excitement in his voice.
"If we can find it. But Dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Gandalf iterated to Kíli and everyone else in the dining room.
Gandalf let out a sigh, but before he could say anything more, Sam took a guess and spoke his mind.
"What you are trying to say, Gandalf, is that the answer could be hidden within the map?"
The End of Chapter IV.
Thank you all for your patience and continued support. I've been so caught up with work, that it sucks all the joy and imagination from my soul. I'll try and work on the next chapter in the next couple of days. So please continue to follow and fav this story. Merry Xmas!
Mya Stone (a.k.a. Shadow) is based on the actress Alexandra Daddario (played Annabeth Chase in the 2 Percy Jackson movies). Her attire is a female version of Aragorn's outfit, with shortswords resembling cleaner versions of Pippin's barrow-blade.