My life had not been going great.
I recently left my home to travel and to get away from my old life.
My car had been stolen with all my belongings save my backpack and a few spare clothes.
I had no job, no friends, and no home.
I was living off change from my wallet and had barely paid for my hotel room for the night when I sat down to eat scraps from the table next to me. The food was alright, compared what I had almost done which meant dumpster diving.
I set down my fork on the plate and ran my fingers through my hair before laying my head on the wooden table. After traveling all Middle Earth my journey ended in the small town of Bree, where drunken fools spent the rest of their lives at. My goals and dreams crushed. Now I could never go back home… not that I really wanted to. But the idea now didn't seem so bad. Why hadn't I ever been told this was a bad idea? I chastised myself over and over for rushing out the door hastily to prove I could find my older brother and bring honor to my family. Honor. Stupid honor. Honor screwed my life up.
I felt the presence of the barmaid take the plate off the table and disappear. Tonight, was my last night in The Prancing Pony. Probably the last night I would sleep in a bed for a while.
"Ahem." I lifted my head up off the table to see an older man sitting down in front of me. He was dressed in an old grey suit that looked like it had seen better days. His long grey hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he stroked his beard as he stared at me. "Who the hell are you?" I asked, skipping over pleasantries. He pulled out his long pipe and began to smoke. I stared at him, expecting him to state who he was and why he was sitting in front of me. The man continued to smoke his pipe, blowing smoke circles in my direction.
I waved the smoke away from my face and crossed my arms. "Who the hell are you?" I asked again, this time firmly. He blew another smoke ring before setting his pipe down. "You are Aurora Lorien daughter of Arathorn are you not?" he asked. My heart froze at hearing my father's name, my mind went numb. "How do you know that? I've never met you before." I managed to say as I fought back shaky hands from the shock.
"I knew your father before he died. You've probably heard of me before. I am Gandalf and Gandalf is me." He said as he placed his hands on the table. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Gandalf?" I asked as I took a swig of my ale. "I have a job opportunity for you."
"What do you mean?" I questioned.
"I have a job that's needs to be filled with a friend of mine. Its very easy and I believe it will do you good to get out." Gandalf explained. I rubbed my forehead as I tried to comprehend everything that was happening. A random man who happened to know my father shows up with a free job. How is this not like one of those stories where the guy is really a serial killer and you end up getting a documentary about people trying to find your missing body?
Gandalf seemed to sense my hesitation. "You're nervous. You don't know whether or not to trust me." He stated as he leaned back in his seat. "Well how can I trust you; I don't even know who you are. Or even what this job is that you're offering. Thanks… but no thanks." I stood up and walked towards the stairs. Hopefully this was just a bad dream that I was having. I climbed to the top of the third floor and found my room and stepped inside. Once the door was closed my body collapsed onto the bed and I stared up at the ceiling. Maybe this was a good thing. Perhaps I could get a job at The Prancing Pony. Perhaps my life wouldn't be bad anymore.
It was with those thoughts that I had drifted off to sleep.
I woke up with sunlight seeping into the room, the beams of light landing on my face. I sat up, stretched, and took in my surroundings before my eyes caught something that hadn't been in my room last night. A note by the door. I stood and went to go pick it up and opened the cream-colored envelope. I spilled open the contents once I was sitting back on the bed and a single letter fell out, it was address to me, the writer's calligraphy spelling my name out elegantly.
Dear Aurora Lorien,
I am sorry you didn't get to hear the rest of my proposition last night. You would be working for Durin Industries, directly under Thorin Oakinshield. I'm not quite sure what the job would be, but I know you would directly under Thorin Oakinshield. I am having to locate another potential employee in the Shire tomorrow, so you will not see me again. I do hope you consider this job opportunity. It would be good for you. You are an exceptional young woman whose hit a few bumpy roads.
Please consider.
Sincerely, Gandalf the Grey
I stared at the letter. I needed a job and working under Thorin Oakinshield would give me enough money to get me back on my feet. I glanced over at the clock. I could get a cab to drop me off in the Shire by lunchtime. It was settled then; I was going to get a job.
…
I was now sincerely broke.
The cab fare to Buckleberry Ferry was more than I originally wanted to spend but at the prosper of a new job, I conceded and spent my last twenty-dollar bill. Then it was another ten dollars to pay for a seat on the ferry.
I better be getting a paycheck soon, I bitterly thought as I grabbed my bookbag and stepped on the steps of the ferry. I decided to walk the rest of the way to the Shire, not because I was broke but because I wanted the exercise and the most advanced form of transportation in the Shire is a horse.
After a few hours I finally made my way to the Shire. It was evening by the time I arrived, and the Shire was still active. I passed by a few people who were busy grabbing some items for supper. I asked a few people if they had seen a tall man in their town. They pointed me up to the top of a hill to a tiny house with a green door. "Huh… never realized they're so short here in the Shire, maybe that's why people call them hobbits." I mused as I climbed up to the top of the hill to the brightly colored green door.
I stopped at the door and lightly knocked. Hopefully Gandalf would be home with this "employee". A few moments later the door opened to a rather frazzled man with ginger hair. "No! No! No! We don't want anymore of you here! It's bad enough I already have a kitchen full of dwarves!" I backed away from him as he continued his rant. "Hey! Hey! I'm only looking for Gandalf!" I said grabbing onto the short man's shoulders. He stopped ranting and glared at me. "Gandalf…" He shook his head and turned back around, and I followed him inside. "So, where did he find you?" He asked as I followed him down a hallway to a busy dinning room full of twelve dwarves. "I'm confused." I stated as my eyes widened at the situation.
"Aurora Lorien! I'm so pleased to see you made it just in time!" a voice yelled out at me. Gandalf waved at me as he held a goblet in the air. He stood and walked over to us. "Now we're only missing the one." Gandalf said as he gave a head count of everyone in the dinning room. "He is late is all." A dwarf says as he leaned up against a post. He was covered in tattoos and was brushing his long beard. "Thank you, Dwalin. Now Miss. Aurora Lorien and Mr. Bilbo Baggins, we must speak in private."
Bilbo nodded and lead us to his den where he sat down in a chair. I sat down across from Bilbo while Gandalf pulled up a chair. Gandalf pulled his pipe out of his pocket and began to puff on it. Bilbo and I waited for him to speak. He continued to puff his pipe until he glanced up and noticed our expressions. "Oh yes right. The jobs. Now I want you to know that this is not a job for the faint of heart. This job will require stealth and heart, but it is possible to finish-" Gandalf began to say until Bilbo cut him off.
"-We're not killing anyone are we? Because I cannot be responsible for murder!" Bilbo interrupted standing up in his seat. I motioned for him to sit down. "If we are murdering anyone, if it pays good money, I'm in." I offered, side glancing at Gandalf.
"There will be no killing, Bilbo Baggins, you have nothing to worry about. This job is quite easy for you. Which is why I picked you. As for you Aurora, you will succeed as well." Gandalf explained. Bilbo still didn't look like he was convinced. I crossed my arms and prepared myself for whatever job I was going to get offered. If it's pays good money, Ro, you got to do it, I thought to myself as I let out a breath, I was holding in. Before Gandalf could further explain the job, there was a firm knock on the front door.
"He's here." Gandalf said to himself as he blew a smoke ring. Bilbo hesitantly glanced at me before standing and heading towards the door. The house had gone silent. The dwarves in the dining room had stopped partying. No one spoke a word as everyone inched towards the front door to see who the knocker was.
Bilbo walked to the door and opened it. A man walked into the room. He was a strong looking male with black hair and a short beard compared to his dwarfish friends. He was dressed in blue and gold and had a cloak. "Gandalf," he nodded to him as he threw off his cloak. "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way twice." The man said, smiling at someone the tiny crowd of dwarves.
"Bilbo Baggins, Aurora Lorien, allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakinshield." Gandalf said as Thorin stepped toward the two of us. "So, this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting?" I stared at Thorin Oakinshield. I had heard many stories about Thorin Oakinshield. The disgraced owner of the technological kingdom in Erebor, until its reputation was destroyed ten years ago when his grandfather was murdered, and his father was driven mad. After that his company lost huge stocks and was barely thriving until the Arkenstone was created, a new phone. His company hadn't been in the headlines lately, so seeing him in person was a little unsettling.
"I figured you'd be taller." I spoke up while Bilbo and Thorin were speaking to each other. Thorin stepped towards me. "Who are you?" he asked staring down at me. I glared back at him. "I'm Ro." I answered, crossing my arms at him.
"She's no hobbit." He mused.
"And you're no CEO but here we are." I argued back, my anger rising as I glared back at him. A few of the dwarves began to murmur at my comeback. He seemed surprised at this, no one had spoken to him that way before. Thorin stepped away and walked into the dinning area where he was given a plate of food to eat. The men around the table asked Thorin about where he had been, and they continued to make small talk till I couldn't stand the anxiety anymore.
"Oh, for the love of Valar! What is this job you want us to do?" I yelled out as I ran my fingers through my hair. The room went silent. I hadn't meant to yell out, but the anxiety was destroying my mind.
Thorin and Gandalf eyes each other, before Gandalf turned to Bilbo and me. "Well…Thorin Oakinshield is looking for a secretary and a personal cook." Gandalf said bluntly.
Our eyes widened with disbelief as we stared at everyone.
