He watched her settle in a chair that the Hobbit had pulled out for her, a gentle smile on her face and he found his eyes taking in her appearance. She had hair the color of pale honey, it fell down her back in long loose curls, intricate plaiting decorated the sides of her head starting at her temple and reaching below her waist, several larger thick plaits twisted together pulling her hair half up around the back of her head, fastened with golden hoops and carved iron beads. She had a small, upturned nose, full pale pink lips, smooth milky skin and the most alluring wide golden eyes. He had never met another with such strange eyes, they seemed to glow in the low light of the dining area, it was alarming to find them staring back at him with an intensity that rivaled his own. She wore simple black linen clothing with a heavy black cloak that contrasted her honey hair making it appear white against the fabric.
"Are you content to stare all night" she growled out tapping her fingernails on the smooth wooden tabletop.
She watched him grunt in annoyance and begin to eat, her own stomach grumbling protesting not being fed properly in some days. She looked up surprised as one of the male dwarves slid over a nice plate of food for her as well. She smiled brightly at him, he had a pink tint to his cheeks as he nodded and looked away quickly.
"Thank you, Master Dwarf, at least someone has manners" she said fixing her golden gaze on Thorin who narrowed his eyes at her.
"Tell me what you know of the mountain" Thorin growled out, his posture ridged as he straightened himself up and glared across the table at her.
She sighed and picked at her food, taking a sip of a rich red wine, the pleasant odor and robust taste exploding off her tongue, her keen eyes found the little Hobbit and she tipped the glass to him "Excellent this is Master Hobbit"
"Bilbo, my name is Bilbo" he squeaked blushing at the compliment.
"Riswynn, at your service" she bowed her head, her curls spilling forth and her beaded plaits tinkling off the tabletop as they danced around her head.
"The mountain" Thorin shouted slamming his palm onto the table causing everyone to jump in surprise except her, she rolled her eyes at him unimpressed with his childlike outburst.
"Very well Thorin, I myself remember nothing of the mountain I was not born there, my mother however used to work there, she was inside that fateful day when Smaug took everything from our people, from what she told me she was trapped inside when the blazes started and the people began to burn" she took a deep breath and looked down at her food, her eyes clenched in misery as she thought of her mother "She told me little about her stay while the dragon ruled under the mountain, only that she was able to escape, she tried to help the others but by that time starvation had become their ruin"
"Wait how long was she in the mountain lassie?" the older dwarf asked leaning forward.
She swallowed hard and shook her head "Too long Master Dwarf, she was nearly dead when she escaped, burned beyond recognition, she told me of the path, secluded it was past the great treasure hoard of Thror and the hall of the kings, where the torch light faded and the halls became narrow, a single door carved into the mountain side, she found it and escaped"
"How can we be sure what she says is true" the bald one yelled in frustration, leveling her with a hatred filled glare.
"She's right" Gandalf said leaning down to place a small withered looking map upon the table, she stood and leaned to get a better look as Thorin took it between his hands and stared.
"How came you by this" he asked breathless and in shock.
Gandalf gave a sad half smile "It was entrusted to me by your father, so one day I may pass it to you" he pointed to the ancient dwarven script "This speaks about the hidden passage"
"Well if there's a passage there must be a door" he said softly looking over the map to rest his eyes on her.
She smirked and nodded "Of course"
"But if there's a door surely there has to be a key" someone shouted.
Gandalf slid his hand into the folds of his grey robes and withdrew an old, rusted iron key tied with a heavy leather band, handing it gently to Thorin "Here lies the key, we will use it to open the door and with the help of our guide and our burglar we should be able to slip in without notice"
"Burglar?" she asked confused raising a thin brow.
Gandalf nodded and stepped back gesturing to Bilbo with a friendly smile "Perhaps a little more light my boy"
Bilbo nodded and left as the old Dwarf pulled out a long paper folding it out on the table, he pulled out a small set of reading glasses, before sliding it across the table toward her. She picked it up with delicate hands and began to read, it looked to be a contract of some sort, her eyes quickly scanned the details, before snorting a laugh "Incineration, lacerations, oh and I'm sure there is something on here about being eaten alive as well"
"Incineration" Bilbo asked nervously as he came back into the room silently holding a candle. She smiled and nodded tossing him the contract, he read it over and looked at Gandalf "What does this have to do with me?" he asked.
"Thorin you've asked me to find you a burglar and find one I have, I chose Bilbo Baggins, Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, and while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf the smell of a Hobbit is all but unknown to him"
"Wait, I'm not a burglar, I've never stolen anything in my life" he said in alarm.
She looked him up and down and grunted with mirth "No I don't suppose you have Mr. Baggins"
He pointed at her "See there, she understands"
The dwarves began to argue back and forth, and Gandalf stood up and shouted "If I say he is a burglar then that is what he is"
She watched the little hobbit clearly in distress behind Thorin, his face looked pale and he swayed on his feet, he looked at her for a brief moment before collapsing and she sprung across the table with a grace unknown of dwarves and snatched his head before it hit the floor "It would seem the burglar has fainted" she chuckled looking over her shoulder at the others, who looked at her with wide eyes and surprised faces.
She huffed and gently laid the hobbit down before standing up and brushing herself off "What" she snorted.
"How did you..how did" the young black haired Dwarrow stuttered and she rolled her eyes "How did I move so quickly?" she said brushing back her long plaits and blowing a stray hair from her eyes.
He nodded dumbly and she smirked "Years spent on the road, I've learned to be quick and quiet when needed I could tell this little fellow was going to faint so I moved before our host could smash into the ground"
Gandalf left removing Bilbo placing him near the hearth in the little room across from him in a plush lovely looking armchair. She watched them leave before turning her attention back to the group of Dwarrow watching her curiously. She crossed her arms and sighed "What now?"
"You've been alone then" the old dwarf asked.
She nodded "Yes for many a year, my ma died a long time ago now I was just a sprout when she died, I've been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember"
"And your sire?" he asked gently.
She snorted "No idea, never met em, mother never spoke of him"
"Are you part elf?" the youngest asked leaning his chin in his palm looking at her with wide eyes.
She laughed heartily "Now why would you think that Master Dwarf?"
He blushed and looked down at the table "Well yer so pretty miss, yellow hair and golden eyes aint normal for our kind" he said softly.
His comrades laughed at him, and she frowned watching as he ducked his chin embarrassed "No for that I am certain, I am a dwarrowdam just a strange one I suppose"
"And yer family which kingdom do you hail from?"
She shrugged pulling at her plait fingering the iron bead gently, carved deeply into the metal was her family crest, a smith's hammer pounding on an anvil "My mother was a Broadbeam, these are her beads"
"A Broadbeam, but they haven't been seen in an age, they hail all the way to the East beyond the great mountains" Thorin grunted, and she snorted back "Aye I know that"
"What are we going to do about her Thorin?" the old dwarf asked.
"What do you think Balin?" he asked looking back at him, then over his shoulder at the dam.
Balin scratched his long white beard and looked over at her winking "She could be helpful; she knows of the passage, and she seems light on her feet perhaps if our burglar doesn't come along, she can be of service"
"Very well give her a contract" Thorin said standing swiftly turning to look at her, she stood proud and tall staring right back. He was surprised at her height, for a dwarrowdam she was remarkably tall and lean, her tunic did little to hide her curves, but she wasn't stout and fat like most dams he encountered.
She felt her cheeks heat under his watchful gaze, pulling her lip into her mouth and glanced at Balin who was smiling warmly at her getting to his feet he handed her a long contract "Here lass, sign on the bottom there"
She nodded grabbing a quill that was offered she singed her mark, simply with her name.
"Riswynn" Balin said looking it over before folding it up and handing it back to Thorin, he gazed at it before scrawling his own name down handing it back to Balin for safe keeping.
"Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield" Balin said happily placing a hand on her shoulder to have her step forward, he gestured to the table of Dwarrow pointing at each one
"The one with yellow hair is Fili, beside him his brother Kili, then you have Bombur, and Bofur, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Nori, Dori, my brother Dwalin" he said pointing to the bald dwarf. Lastly, he pointed at a dwarf that she was surprised to see a small axe embedded deep in his forehead "That there is Bifur". She bowed her head "Riswynn at your service" she said politely.
Once he was finished with the introductions he turned and offered a warm smile "Now then the introductions are over, I believe it best we get some rest before daybreak"
The dwarves pilled out of the small dining area shoving each other out of the way playfully as they passed her, she followed shortly after admiring the warm hearth and soft cushions of Bilbos little sitting area. She sat down on the edge of the party and stared at the dancing flames distracted and lulled by its beautiful swaying.
A deep rumbling started from her companions as they slowly began to hum together, she was memorized as the deep baritone of Thorin broke the formation and he began to sing, slowly the others joined and she found herself drawn to them it was a heartbreaking song, full of sorrow and she found herself humming along although she didn't know the words the melody was easy to follow. She closed her eyes and swayed to the deep rumbling of her Dwarrow companions sad when they finished
"That was beautiful" she said softly.
"Have you never heard it" Kili asked surprised, and she shook her head "No its very sad"
"Have you never lived in the halls of our kin? Its commonly sung in the halls of the Blue Mountains" Kili asked curious, his dark eyes searching her face.
She blew out a breath and shook her head "Once when I was young, I remember the halls of the iron hills, I had few friends there and from time to time I visit them, but my mother and I were not wanted so we left, after she died, I traveled from place to place, there were no songs sung in my great halls amongst animals and trees"
"Enough, everyone get some rest, we leave at first light" Thorin said roughly walking away from the hearth a pipe in hand, she watched him go with sad eyes, she knew the tales of the mountain and she felt her heart go out to all that lost their lives and homes that day.
She sat watching the firelight dance casting shadows across the small room, as everyone laid out on the floor huddled closely together in the small space, Bilbo was speaking quietly with the wizard and Thorin was still outside. She yawned and stood up looking for a space to sleep, she wasn't comfortable sleeping so close to so many Dwarrow so she chose to curl up in a small ball next to the fire knowing full well she would be stiff and tired in the morrow.
…..