Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 3 of Stronger. Thank you to those who have left reviews. It does mean a lot to me that you guys are enjoying it. Hopefully, I will continue on this path on making this story well. Without further ado Chapter 3. ENJOY!

Chapter 3

We hadn't expected a song and flying dishware from the twelve dwarves that were already at Mr. Baggins' home, but they gave us a treat. The poor fairies had to duck a lot due to their wings. That was the one part of them that was very sensitive to them.

That was when I met him. Thorin Oakenshield. The Exiled King under the Mountain. After three loud knocks, my life was turned upside down. Thorin was everything that you would expect for a future King under the mountain. He had the air around him that demanded that you would respect him.

Thorin didn't like the idea of Bilbo being their burglar because he didn't know how to use a weapon that would make matters only worse. Thorin would be rude to the Hobbit due to that fact.

Father soon revealed the quest to us. The dwarves of course knew more about this than I did and the fairies along with Bilbo were right with me. Father could no longer read ancient dwarvish and I couldn't read it either due to it being years since I had last read anything in ancient dwarvish.

Sadly enough our night had gotten worse. Our hobbit who father had picked had decided to say no which caused a big problem for us. We needed someone who was light on their feet, didn't smell like a dwarf or had wings.

For the first time in my life, I was afraid that we would fail. Smaug would get to keep Erebor forever keeping what he had stolen from the line of Durin.

Thorin and the dwarves had sung about the Lonely Mountain that night. They were trying to raise their hopes that Bilbo perhaps coming with us in the morning. Something that I was sadly doubting already.

What were thirteen dwarves, a wizard, a half maiar half-dwarf witch, and four fairies going to do against Smaug? Absolutely nothing without a hobbit's helping hand in this and Bilbo so far was a disappointment.

The dwarves moved around some to make room for the five new guests.

The five women tried to sit where ever there was the room which was not easy for them due to there being 12 dwarves, a wizard, a witch, and four fairies all in the same room eating their fill of food.

Bofur looked at his brother. "Bombur, catch!" Bofur then threw something at his brother.

Bombur caught the food that was thrown in his mouth.

The dwarves cheered.

The four fairies looked at one another. This was a shock to them. They were not used to this kind of eating habits of other races.

Fili walked on the table passing ale to those who wanted it. He kicked food out of his way which caused more discomfort to the four fairies that were eating with them.

They soon enough had a drinking contest between the twelve of them and burped. This caused the women to get up and leave to look around Bilbo's home curiously.

Amaris soon enough found her father talking to Bilbo. She didn't hear much of the conversation.

"There is mud trod into the carpet. They've pillaged the pantry. I am not going to tell you what they've done to the bathroom. They've all but destroyed the plumbing. I don't understand what they are doing in my house." Bilbo said seething.

Amaris shook her head. She knew that her father was sometimes forgetful, but this was too bad.

Ori the third youngest dwarf came up to Bilbo with his plate in his hands. "Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?" He asked the already angry hobbit.

Fili came up to Ori. "Here you go Ori, give it to me." Fili took the plate from Ori and threw it to Kili, who in turn caught it and threw it to Bifur, who caught it without looking.

Gandalf had to duck from the flying dishware that the dwarves were throwing. "Oh!"

"Excuse me, that's my mother's West Farthing crockery it's over a hundred years old!" Bilbo shouted in hopes that the dwarves would stop throwing his dishes around.

The dwarves who sat at the table began o bang the utensils on the table.

"Can-can you not do that. You'll blunt them."

"Oh, d'hear that lads? He says we'll blunt the knives." Bofur said making a smart remark towards what Bilbo had said.

The four fairies looked at one another at the comment that Bofur had made towards Bilbo. They were surprised that Bilbo hadn't thrown them out of the house.

Kili begins to break out into a song.

Blunt the knives, bend the forks.

Fili joined in with his younger brother in singing.

Smash the bottles and burn the corks.

The other dwarves joined in on the song.

Chip the glasses and crack the plates

That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates!

Cut the cloth and tread on the fat

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat

The four fairies moved away from the table to avoid getting hit with the flying dishware that Bilbo hadn't been able to stop yet.

Pour the milk on the pantry floor

Splash the wine on every door

Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl

Pound them up with a thumping pole

When you've finished if any are whole

Send them down the hall to roll

That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates!

Bilbo stormed into the room where everyone was and noticed that the dishes were done and stacked nicely not a single one of them broken.

They all laughed at what Bilbo's reaction was.

"My dear Bilbo," Gandalf said shaking his head.

Amaris shook her head. Men could be childish, but things like this happen all the time.

Three loud knocks caused them to go into silence. Another visitor had come.

"He's here," Gandalf said, his tone completely changing from the laughing side of him.

They all went to the door and Gandalf opened the door revealing the final person.

There stood Thorin Oakenshield. Thorin entered Bilbo's home. "Gandalf. I thought that you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door…" Thorin told the old wizard gruffly.

Amaris shivered at Thorin's voice. He indeed was everything that her father had told her when he had asked her in the first place. Thorin was indeed a strong dwarf. a dwarf that was fit to be a king.

"Mark? There is no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago." Bilbo said confused about why there was now an unknown mark on his door.

"There is a mark. I put it there myself." Gandalf said as he looked down at the hobbit who looked quite ready to keel over due to how many he already had in his house and no one was listening to him about leaving his home. "Bilbo Baggins allow me to introduce the leader of our company. Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin came up to Bilbo. "So… this is the Hobbit?" Thorin said as he began to look Bilbo over with a scrutinizing gaze. "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?" Bilbo asked confused as to why this dwarf was asking him such a question.

"Ax or sword?" Thorin asked another question in hopes that he indeed was asking the right hobbit these questions. "What's your weapon of choice?"

"Well, I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."

The four faes lowered their heads. Conkers was just a game played among small children, not something that would be noted as swordplay or archery.

"Thought as much," Thorin said crossing his arms still looking at the hobbit with disdain. He looked over his shoulder at some of his company. "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

All the dwarves chuckled at this. It was true Bilbo didn't look like the fighting type at all.

Thorin then noticed the woman that was standing next to Gandalf who wore blue robes. He also noticed the four fae women standing there. "Gandalf and who are these maidens?" He asked as he looked up at the tall wizard whose blue eyes were twinkling with knowledge.

"Thorin Oakenshield these five maidens have been requested to join us by me. I introduce you to Calista, Celinette, Dwynwen, and Estrellita of the fae realm to uphold the truce between dwarves and fae."

The four women bowed their heads in respect towards Thorin.

"And this young lady right here."

Amaris shook her head. She was far from being young. She was the second oldest in this entire room. Not even the dwarves that were here would be able to add up to how old she was.

"Is my daughter, Amaris the Blue."

Amaris bowed her head.

Thorin looked at Gandalf like he had done and lost his mind. He didn't want five women in his company. But he now knew that the woman that was dressed in all blue was a witch and would be able to help them on this quest like Gandalf was. And the four fae women were upholding an alliance between the two races. There was no way that he would be able to say no to these four women. "Fine, they can be part of our company." He said gruffly still not liking the idea.

Amaris shivered again at Thorin's deep voice. She didn't know why she was having such a problem with hearing Thorin's voice.

Thorin began to follow the rest of the company.

Gandalf let out a sigh as he rested his arm on the upper wall.

Amaris went over to her father and patted him on the arm before going into the room.

They all settled down into their seat, but Bilbo was out of the room thinking.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked his longtime friend.

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin replied as he ate his meal.

"All of them!" Balin said as the other dwarves were happy with the news.

"And what did the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked as he looked at Thorin.

Thorin let out a sigh. He knew that this was coming. "They will not come."

All the dwarves began to murmur. This was bad indeed. They had hoped that Dain would back them up on reclaiming Erebor.

"They say that this quest is ours and ours alone," Thorin said before drinking some of his ale.

The four fae women looked down at their tankards and knew that sometimes there was no loyalty from fellow dwarves. This was indeed a sad tune. Would they be able to reclaim Erebor? This was something that they did not know.

Bilbo came into the room and stood behind the grey wizard. "You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked curiously. He had not heard of someone going on a quest such as this.

Gandalf looked over his shoulder at the hobbit. "Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light."

Bilbo went to go and get another candle so they could see.

Gandalf had pulled a map from his robes. "Far to the east over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." He said as he laid it on the table.

Bilbo leaned over after returning. "The Lonely Mountain." He said reading it out loud.

"Aye, Oin has read the portents…" Gloin piped up, "And the portents say it is time."

Gandalf lit his pipe with his finger and blew it out.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it foretold.m When the birds of yore return to Erebor the reign of the beast will end." Oin said following what his brother had said.

"Uh what beast?" Bilbo asked curiously. He hoped that he hadn't asked the wrong question to the group that now had sat in his dining room.

"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible," Bofur said looking up at the hobbit. "Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals."

"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo piped up. He had only heard of them in stories. So this was fairly new to him.

Ori jumped up from his seat.

The four fairy women looked at him. They never thought a scholar would jump up like this.

"I am not afraid. I am up for it. I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie." Ori shouted proudly.

The five women who sat there had begun to turn red.

"Good lad, Ori," Nori said with a smile.

"Sit down," Dori said pulling Ori down. "There are ladies present."

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us…" Balin said solemnly.

The fae looked down. Yes, indeed this would be a hard task at hand.

"But we number just 18. And not 18 of the best… nor brightest."

"Here, who are you calling dim?" Nori said outraged.

"Sorry, what did he say?" Oin asked not hearing what Balin had said.

Fili pounded his fist off the table. "We may be few in number, but we are fighters, all of use to the last dwarf and fae." He pounded his fist on the table again.

"And you forget, we have a wizard and a witch in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Kili said not knowing if it was true or not.

"Oh, well no, I wouldn't say…" Gandalf started to say.

Amaris shook her head. She knew that this would most likely happen. She knew her father hadn't killed any dragons in his time and if he had he would have told her the stories from it.

"Wel how many then?" Dori asked curiously.

"What?" Gandalf asked confused.

"Well, how many dragons have you killed?"

Gandalf began to cough on the smoke that he had in his lungs. He hadn't expected Dori to ask that question. He didn't want to reveal that he hadn't killed any dragons in his lifetime.

Amaris palmed her forehead.

"Go on give us a number," Dori said wanting the answer from the grey wizard.

A fight broke out among the dwarves. Thorin, Amaris, the four fae women, and Bilbo hadn't begun the argument and it didn't matter if the grey wizard had killed off any sort of dragon.

"Excuse me, Please." Bilbo tried his best to stop the fight that was breaking out in his dining room.

"Shazara!" He yelled standing up from his chair.

The dwarves went into silence. They would not anger this man. Not in the least bit.

"If we have read these signs… do you not think others have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look to the 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 and take back Erebor?"

All the dwarves cheered at the idea of taking back Erebor.

"Du Bekar! Du Bekar!"

"You forget, the front gate is sealed." Balin piped up when Thorin sat down. "There is no way into the mountain."

"That, my dear Balin is not entirely true," Gandalf said, as he removed a dwarvish key from inside of his sleeve.

Amaris raised her eyebrow in wondered how he had gotten this key.

"How came you by this?" Thorin asked in bewilderment, as he looked at the key that Gandalf now held in his hand.

"It was given to me by your father. By Thrain. For safekeeping." Gandalf explained to the king in exile. "It is now yours." He handed it to Thorin.

The dwarves looked at the key in wonderment.

"If there is a key… there must be a door." Fili said in surprise.

Gandalf pointed at the map with the tip of his pipe. "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls."

Kili put his arm on his brother. "There's another way in." He said with a grin.

"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gandalf sighed. He knew that they were going to need some kind of help. "The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. Nor does Amaris. But 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." Gandalf looked quickly at Bilbo before looking at the rest of the group. "But if we are careful and clever. I believe it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar," Ori said looking at Gandalf.

Amaris looked at Bilbo. How on earth was this hobbit going to help them reclaim Erebor? He looked too afraid to even step foot out of the shire.

"Hm… And a good one too." Bilbo said, "An expert, I'd imagine."

They all looked at him.

"And are you?" Gloin asked Bilbo.

"Am I what?" Bilbo asked confused at what Gloin was asking.

"He said he's an expert. Hey." Oin said with a smile causing some of the dwarves to laugh.

"Me? No, no, no, no. I am not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life." Bilbo started trying to get them to understand that he was not what they were looking for. He wasn't even sure why someone would think he was one in the first place.

"Well, I"m afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins." Balin said looking at Gandalf. "He's hardly burglar material."

"Nope," Bilbo said shaking his head.

"Aye," Dwalin spoke up. "The wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves."

"He's just fine," Kili said.

They began to argue among themselves again in how much Bilbo was not what they were looking for on this quest that they were about to go on.

"Enough!" Gandalf yelled rising to his feet.

Amaris looked at her father with wide amber-colored eyes. He never yelled not like this.

"If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."

That had shut everyone up hat were fighting at the table.

Gandalf calmed down some. "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most, if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf and fae… the scent of hobbit is all, but unknown to him. which gives us a distinct advantage."

Bilbo tried to form words, but nothing would come out of his mouth.

"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. I've even chosen the 19th as well. There is a lot more to him than appearances suggest. And he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know."

The four fae women looked at Gandalf. They hope he was stating the truth about Mr. Baggins. So far what they saw was someone who would not be able to handle this quest that they were about to go on.

"Including himself."

Thorin looked at Gandalf.

Gandalf looked back at Thorin. "You must trust me on this."

Thorin let out a sigh. "Very well. We will do it your way."

"No, no." Bilbo began to say.

"Give him the contract," Thorin told Balin.

"We're in. We're off." Bofur said with a smile.

The dwarves cheered.

Amaris and the four faes could not help, but feel that this was wrong.

Balin stood up pulling the contract out. "It's just the usual. Summary of our of pocket expenses… time required, remuneration… funeral arrangements, so forth." He said handing the contract to Thorin.

Thorin handed the contract to Bilbo.

"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo asked gulping. Bilbo took the contract into the hall to read it.

Thorin leaned towards Gandalf. "I cannot guarantee his safety."

"Understood," Gandalf told him.

"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."

"Agreed."

Amaris shook her head. She knew that this was indeed going to be a bit of a problem.

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This is the end of Chapter 3. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Reviews keep me going on trying to write this story out. I can already tell that this is going to be a long story. Until next time.