Chapter 2
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Gandalf walked to his doorsteps and left a marking on his door. "Well, that was entertaining." Meldamiriel commented. "Are you sure he's the right hobbit for this quest?"
"Yes, I think he is."
"But he doesn't have an adventurous bone in him." Melda countered.
"And you don't have a prudent bone in you." Gandalf said back. "I believe this journey would be good for you and for him."
"What do we do now?" Meldamiriel asked him.
"I will go to Bree, wait for the dwarves." Gandalf replied. "And you will wait for them at the outskirts of the Shire. You'll show them the way."
"As you wish, Gandalf. As you wish."
The hobbits lived happy in the Shire. They were constantly laughing, smiling and cheerfully walking around the market, gardening, eating or even drinking. Meldamiriel walked among them for some hours, smiling widely at what she was seeing. She had always envied the hobbits. They were carefree. They didn't have to worry of what was happening in the world of the big people. Darkness had never reached the borders of the Shire and Melda hoped that it never would.
After she received a few suspicious looks from the hobbits, Meldamiriel thought it would be best if she just goes to the edge of the Shire and just wait for the first dwarf to come. Waiting was the worst thing that Melda could do. She was one of those people who needed to constantly do something, anything. That's why in Rohan she was constantly running after the pigs or running away from the young maid. So, waiting was a bore.
Sitting under the willow tree, the fresh light breeze lulled her to sleep. Several hours passed, her thoughts wandered back to Rohan, to her parents, and to her best friend Déorwine. Déorwine was ten years younger than she was. Meldamiriel is twenty-nine years old while Déorwine was nineteen years old. Déorwine is a shy boy that Melda took under her wing. Her protégé has never been one to leave the comfort of his home. He loved his life as a simple farmer and Melda was the one to bring him out of his shell. He loved having fun with her, he enjoyed it while he still can. Melda knew that one day he would get married and have children and he wouldn't be able to spend as much time as he used to.
It was dark now and Melda was ready when the first dwarf finally showed himself. He had a long beard and he was bald. He had ear rings on both of his ears.
When he reached her side, he looked her up and down before he finally spoke. "Dwalin, at your service." He bowed.
"Meldamiriel." She bowed in return. "I take it you are part of the company?"
"I am." Dwalin replied. "Now, show me the way to the hobbit."
"You're all charms, Dwalin." Melda countered but only received a blank stare. "You go right ahead and after the bridge you turn left. Then, you go up the hills, the house you're looking for has been marked by Gandalf." Dwalin grunted something back as he walked past her. "That went well."
A few minutes later, a shorter and wider dwarf walked up to her. "Balin, at your service." He greeted her.
"Meldamiriel, at yours." She bowed to him. And without wasting time she indicated him the way to Bilbo's home and waited the next dwarves.
Two of them came. Fili and Kili. They looked younger than the previous two and much friendlier, Melda thought. She indicated them the way, thinking about poor Mr. Baggins having unexpected guests into his house. At last a much larger group arrived accompanied by Gandalf himself.
Gandalf introduced all the dwarves to Melda. "Ori, Dori, Nori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur." The names were similar and though, she couldn't match them with a face now. With time she'll come to know all of them by heart.
The small group looked odd in the middle of the Shire. The likes of which the hobbits were not used too and even found suspicious. But Melda was already enjoying their company, as they talked excitedly among themselves. She was thrilled for her new journey.
They rang the bell, the dwarves kept talking. "Will you be joining us, lassie?" One of them asked her. She believed it was Bofur.
"Yes, I will be." Melda smiled at him.
The door opened and all the dwarves fell on the floor. Gandalf passed his head through the door to be able to look at Bilbo.
"Gandalf." Bilbo sighed.
"He doesn't look happy." Melda commented.
Bilbo's home was now filled with dwarves. They moved chairs, tables, some placed plates on the tables with Gandalf's help. Melda was helping others to bring the food on the table. While Bilbo ran after the dwarves to try and save some of his belongings.
"Having trouble Gandalf?" Melda chuckled as the grey wizard steadied the candelabra over his head.
"Sometimes, I forget how tall I am." Gandalf answered.
"You said it was a company of thirteen dwarves. I only counted twelve, did I forget someone?" Melda told him.
"No, you haven't, my dear." Gandalf retorted. "We appear to be one dwarf short."
"He is late, is all." Balin informed them. "He traveled north to a meeting of our kin. He will come."
"Mr. Gandalf?" Dori interrupted before Melda could ask who they were referring to. Or was it Nori? Melda couldn't tell. "A little glass of red wine, as requested. It's got a fruity bouquet."
"Oh, cheers."
"Who's missing Gandalf?"
At the dining table, it became clear to Melda that the dwarves had no table manners whatsoever. They ate with their fingers, spilled their drinks, threw food into each other's mouth, walked on the tale to serve ale. She found it weird but somehow she liked it.
She drank as they did, she put her goblet back on the table and burped. Silence fell among them. The dwarves looked stunningly at Meldamiriel, the latter looked horrified at what just happened. "Sorry." She apologized quietly. But the dwarves laughed, her burp was soon followed by others.
"Do you smoke, lassie?" Balin asked Melda as she was cleaning out the table.
"No, I don't." Melda shook her head. "But thanks for the offer."
"Bofur told me that you were to travel with us. On our quest." It was a statement not a question.
"Yes, I am." She sat down next to him. "Gandalf told me all there is to know about your quest. He told me that the Prince under the mountain is on quest to reclaim his kingdom."
"It could be dangerous for a young girl like you." Balin retorted.
"I'm not afraid." Melda smiled wickedly. "I love it when it's dangerous."
"What of your parents?" Dwalin asked.
"They're used to it, even though, they wish to see me marry." Melda answered.
The four dwarves that sat with them started to thump their foot on the ground and clinking forks and knives together. It was a merry sound, Melda started to smile only to hear Bilbo yelling about his mother's West farthing pottery. She turned around to see that Fili was juggling with his dishes and threw them to someone that she couldn't see.
"Can you not do that, you'll blunt them." Bilbo scolded the dwarves at the table.
"Ooh, do you hear that lads?" Bofur asked his companions. "He says, we'll blunt the knives."
Blunt the knives, bend the forks,
one of the dwarves started to sing.
Smash the bottles and burn the corks
Fili continued. And the rest of them joined in the song.
Chip the glasses and crack the plates
That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates.
Cut the cloth, tread on the fat
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat
Pour the milk on the pantry floor
Splash the wine
On every door.
The dishes kept being passed from a dwarf to another. Others grabbed their instrument and started to play, Bombur, the largest of the dwarves, ate what was left in the plates. Meldamiriel got up and joined Gandalf, together they watched the merry gathering cleaning the table.
Dump the crooks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you're finished
If they are whole
Send them down the hall to roll
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates.
At the end of the song, the dishes were neatly put together on the table. They were all laughing, cheering while Bilbo looked at the pile of dishes on his table opened mouth. Then, three pounds sounded on the door. The laughs died down and they all looked to the door.
"He is here." Gandalf said.
"Who is He?" Meldamiriel asked to the closest dwarf at her side.
"Gandalf." The last of the dwarves greeted the wizard. "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
"A mark? There's no mark on that door." Bilbo intervened. "It was painted a week ago."
"There is a mark. I put it there myself." Gandalf told him. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield."
Oh, Delaina, Thorin Oakenshield, your father, was a complete idiot. Or so I thought. The first words that came out of his mouth, were of complaints. He was an idiot but a handsome and charismatic one. His company that was noisy and merry the minute before, were now quiet. They welcomed their Prince with a solemn air, an air I didn't think they will ever wear for they showed no manners before. His hair and beard were brown with some white strands. His blue eyes were mesmerizing even then.
"So, this is the Hobbit." Thorin said looking at Bilbo. "Tell me, Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting?"
"Pardon me?" Thorin circled him assessing the hobbit.
"Ax or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"
"Well, I do have some skills at conkers, if you must know but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo retorted.
"I thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." All the dwarves chuckled. "And what of this girl?"
"Meldamiriel of Rohan. And I'm not a girl." Melda retorted. "My weapons of choice are the dagger and the sword and yes, I am familiar with fighting in battles."
"Meldamiriel, here is my personal addition to this quest." Gandalf told him.
"And what is she to do on this quest?" Thorin asked him.
"Gandalf promised an epic journey, a long time ago. And a lot of enemies to fight. I'm just here to have a good time." Meldamiriel retorted.
Thorin looked her up and down and scoffed. Without a word he moved in the next room with his company following in his steps.
"Did I say something wrong?" Melda asked Gandalf.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin?" Balin asked Thorin as he was eating his supper. "Did they all come?"
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin answered. They all manifested their approvals around the table. Glad that the seven Dwarves Kingdoms answered to the call of their Prince.
"And what did the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say?" Dwalin asked him. "Is Dain with us?"
"They will not come." Thorin sighed. All the dwarves around the table seemed disappointed. "They say this quest is ours and ours alone."
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo questioned and silence fell in the room.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf broke the sudden silence. "Far to the east…" Gandalf spread a map on the table. "…ranges and rivers…beyond woodlands and wastelands…lies a single, solitary peak."
Melda rose from her chair and stood behind Gandalf. She looked over his shoulder. Bilbo was standing next to her and read out loud. "The Lonely Mountain."
"Aye, Oin has read the portents, the portents say it is time." Gloin started.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it was foretold." Oin continued. "When the birds of Yore return to Erebor the reign of the beast will end."
"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo questioned.
"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible." Bofur retorted. Melda knew about the dragon but she didn't think it was a good idea to tell Bilbo about the dragon, not just yet. "Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather. Teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metal."
"I know what a dragon is." Bilbo cut him off.
"I'm not afraid. I'm up for it." Ori rose from his chair. "I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!"
"Sit down!" Dori ordered him.
"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 pointed out
Cries of protest arose around the table. All arguing about whether or not they were stupid.
"We may be few in numbers but we're fighters all of us to the last dwarf." Fili put a stop to the arguing.
"And you forget, we have a Wizard in our company." Kili added. "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
"Oh, well, no. I wouldn't say…" Gandalf started as the dwarves turned an hopeful gaze onto him.
"How many, then?" Dori asked.
"What?"
"How many dragons have you killed?"
Gandalf started to cough and the dwarves started to argue more violently this time. Bilbo tried to stop them, Gandalf and Melda just watched silently. Until, it all came to a rest when Thorin rose from his chair and let out a roar in a language that Melda didn't know.
"If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too?" Thorin asked them. "Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes looking 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?" All the dwarves roared and cheered at their prince words.
"He certainly know how to talk to a tough crowd." Meldamiriel whispered to Gandalf.
"You forget, the front gate is sealed." Balin reminded them. "There is no way into the mountain."
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf assured him holding a key.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked him.
"It was given to mbe by your father." Gandalf answered. "By Thrain. For safekeeping. It is yours, now." Gandalf gave the key to Thorin.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili said.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the Lower Halls." Gandalf explained.
"There's another way in." Kili smiled.
"That is if we can find that door." Meldamiriel told him. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed, even to the dwarves themselves." Gandalf looked down at her with raised eyebrows. "I read. Occasionally."
"Unfortunately, Melda is right. But the answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it." Gandalf explained. "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." He glanced at Bilbo. "But if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori exclaimed.
Bilbo hummed in answer. "A good one too. An expert, I'd imagine."
"And are you?" Gloin asked him.
"Am I what?"
"He said he's an expert. Hey." Oin chuckled.
"Me? No. No, no, no. I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life." Bilbo denied.
"Well, I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin agreed.
"Aye, the Wild is no place for gentle who can neither fight nor fend for themselves."Dwalin added. Again, another argument ensued. Some argued that Bilbo was the right choice and others that Dwalin was right, Bilbo had no place among the company.
"Enough!" Gandalf snapped. The light dimmed, Gandalf rose from his chair and he seemed to grow taller than he already was. "If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is. Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet." He continued as the light shone again in the room. "In fact, they can pass unseen by most, if they choose. And while the Dragon is accustomed to the small of Dwarf, the scent of a hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage." Gandalf then turned to Thorin. "You've asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. And Meldamiriel." He finished looking at the young maid.
"The more the merrier." She smiled at him.
"There's more to him than appearances suggest." Gandalf continued speaking to Thorin. "And he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know. Including himself. You must trust me on this."
"Very well." Thorin agreed. "We will do it your way." He turned to Balin. "Give them both the contract."
"We're in. We're off." Bofur said.
"It's just the usual." Balin said handing out the contract to Bilbo and Melda. "Summary of out of expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."
Meldamiriel took the parchment. "Where do I sign?" she asked at the same time Bilbo asked. "Funeral arrangements?"
Balin gave Melda a quill. "Thank you." She took it and signed without hesitation.
She didn't think once of what the consequences would be if she came to die. Or what her parents will feel if happened. All she was interested in was the journey to Erebor and the fights to come. In the past, her different quest took her away from home for months. She came close to death and in those moments she would think of her parents. Only when she was knocking at death's door, never before. And every single time she'd promised to herself to think before acting. But she broke that promise every time.
"I cannot guarantee his safety." She heard Thorin whispered to Gandalf.
"Understood." Gandalf replied.
"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."
"Agreed."
"Don't worry about the Hobbit, Princeling." She said looking up at Thorin. "I will take care of his safety and as for his fate. The Elders will decide." She smiled at him. She missed the look Gandalf sent her way. He approved of her decision, he hoped for it actually.
"Terms cash on: delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit, if any." Bilbo read out loud.
"One fifteenth." Balin corrected casting his eyes on Melda.
"Seems fair." Bilbo nodded.
"Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including, but not limited to lacerations, evisceration, incineration?" Gandalf and Melda turned their heads as one to Bilbo.
"Aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur nodded.
"Bilbo?" Melda called.
"You alright, Laddie?" Balin asked him.
He took few deep breaths. "Feel a bit faint."
"Think furnace with wings." Bofur continued.
"Air. I need air." Was Bilbo's response.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then:Poof. You're nothing more than a pile of ash." Bofur kept talking.
"Bofur, that's enough." Melda said warningly. "Bilbo, are you going to be alright?"
He let out a deep breath again. "Nope." And he fainted. Melda rushed to his side to check on him.
"Very helpful, Bofur." Gandalf scolded the dwarf.