After the sun set in Chicago, Illinois, a young woman had been sitting alone at her own table at a quiet diner called Rae's Restaurant and had been waiting patiently for someone to meet with her. This woman was Lady Sif of Asgard. She was recently banished from Asgard ever since her involvement in helping Thor and disobeying King Odin's orders. Despite being one of the best warriors in Asgard, Sif was very proud and always eager to prove herself. She was a very close friend to Thor and the Warriors Three, and fought as an honorable warrior on the battlefield. Having an independent and uneasy side in following orders, she has shown unwavering loyalty to Odin. Unlike many other Asgardians, Sif does not view humans as lesser beings since she became friends with one named Phillip Jamie Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. and had been one of the agency's honorable allies since the Chitauri invaded New York.
As she continued drinking from her tea and kept her double-bladed sword hidden, she turned to notice someone slowly approaching her. The person was known to be a young man, who sat down to join her. The man was Agent Phil Coulson. Throughout his life as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., he is shown to have many different aspects to his personality. He will often be serious and even be threatening when a situation calls for it, but in a way, he has a very humorous, often display of himself in the form of witty or sarcastic comments, especially when hanging around with a few people he fully trusts. He is also caring, treating his team every agent he knows as his family, and protecting any at all costs. While sometimes he presents bad news gently, he knows when it is necessary to present it bluntly. On the other side, Agent Coulson can be quite giddy on occasion, as when he finally met Captain America after being a fan his whole life.
"Glad for you to pick a good place to meet," Agent Coulson smiled, sitting himself down to join her. "Much quieter."
"At least its good to pick one that is… less quiet," Sif smiled back at him, showing that she was delighted to see him and considered him as one of her friends that she trusted back in Nevada during the hunt for Lorelei Incantare, the younger sister of Amora Incantare. "But, I'm starting to get use to knowing much of Midgard."
"Glad to hear, and I'm deeply sorry to hear that you were banished," Agent Coulson expressed his sympathy to her.
Sif's smile began to fade and changed to an unhappy face, but knew that he really cared and expressed his deepest condolences. "I knew I would be punished for helping Thor defy his father's orders. I would've followed them, but I knew what would happen to the Nine Realms if Malekith would succeed to transform the universe by plunging it back into eternal darkness, so I had to make a choice; let them all fall into darkness or prevent it from happening."
"I know you mentioned about the Aether, how something so powerful and ancient that can doom the universe," Agent Coulson recalled about the Aether, but then he began to grow a bit suspicious all of a sudden. "But I think there's something else that meets the eye."
"And it is something that no being should ever come near," Sif warned. "There are a lot of things that you don't know about the universe Son of Coul." She reaches for her bag takes out a mysterious looking sphere. The sphere was described to be perfectly smooth. "Like this."
Agent Coulson stared at the sphere and began to wonder what it was in thought and suspicion. "What is it?"
"Its a Palantír," Sif answered his question. "But in our language, we call it the Seeing Stone."
"What does it do?" Agent Coulson asked while glancing at the spherical object Sif held in the palm of her hands.
"It was made by the Ñoldor of Arda during the Elder Days," Sif began her explanation of what she knows about the Seeing Stone. "According to history, there were seven Seeing Stones, given by the Elves of the Light to the Númenóreans, who kept them as their heirlooms until the Fall of Númenor near the end of the Second Age. These objects have the power to only show visions or intended thoughts of the users that bear them. They, in one direction, could see for leagues, with the farthest places showing the least clarity. What I know about this seeing stone, each vision is not based on obstacles, but on darkness. They could see through things, but would only see a shadow and nothing within could be discerned."
"Then I'm guessing that whoever carries this dark looking sphere, can see what the future would be like?" Agent Coulson raised his eyebrow in concern and remained suspicious.
"It must not be used by any force," Sif warned him about danger within the Seeing Stone. "For I have kept it for few decades and I wouldn't dare let it fall into the wrong hands."
"But why would you show it to me, knowing that its dangerous," Agent Coulson whispered sharply. "Even though you trust S.H.I.E.L.D. and I, we should probably hide this seeing stone and keep it fully contained."
"I only trust you, Son of Coul," Sif openly declined that idea. "But I do not trust your S.H.I.E.L.D. or this new leader who is commanding you."
"Oh I see, you're talking about Daisy," Agent Coulson brought that one up about his director. "Tell you the truth, she's not really a leader, but she's actually a Director who runs the agency."
"Why would you give up your title?" Sif wondered why Coulson was not a director no more.
"Its complicated," Agent Coulson answered, not thinking it was the right time to tell her about that. "But I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later."
That was when the waitress came by their table with a smile on her face and asked in a pleasant voice. "Can I get you anything sir?"
"Just one cup of coffee," Agent Coulson ordered politely.
"Got it right there honey," The waitress replied with a wide grin and walked to get the coffee.
"I guess this is not all, isn't it?" Agent Coulson wondered and saw a slight tinge of fear growing in her face. "Something wrong?"
"Its just," Sif sighed and took a moment to think. "I would've wished that the Seeing Stone should've remained deep in the deepest, darkest vault within Asgard. But there's something you need to know. Its something I didn't tell Thor."
"Then tell me," Agent Coulson insisted to hear from her. "Tell me everything."
Sif sighed and began to explain her story. "It happened sixty years ago…"
Sixty years ago on the planet Arda, a world that is 13,502 kilometers and bigger than Midgard, Lady Sif of Asgard paid a visit to this planet hundred times and served as a good friend and ally to Gandalf the Grey. Gandalf was known on Arda to be one of the Maiar, a race of eternal beings that helped the Valar, the Chronomonitors of Chronyca-2, the Olympians of Olympia, and the Asgardians of Asgard to shape countless worlds in the universe. There were numerous Maiar that lived in the worlds they shaped across the universe and each of them was associated with one or more particular Valar. But the during the present time, a thundering storm shattered across the land. Rain was pouring down heavily, but the wind remained calm and silent. From the sky above, a bright circle of light hits the ground around the forest. The bifrost closes and in the center of the Asgard symbol kneels Sif, sword in hand and a determined look on her face. She looks around and saw that she wasn't far from her destination. As the rain began to slowly weaken, Sif makes her way towards a city located near the intersection of the main north-south and east-west routes through Eriador.
Bree was described as a forted chief city of the Bree-Land. Besides Bree itself, there was the town of Staddle on the other side of the hill, Combe in a deep valley a little further eastward, and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood. Lady Sif arrived near the entrance of the city, but instead of walking into the gate, she made a huge leap over the wall and landed her feet on the roof of a house. Sif hoped that no one her from above the roof while she jumped down and landed on the mud. She looked around and saw many inhabitants wondering the city during the weather at night. The Humans of Bree were brown-haired, broad, and rather short, cheerful and independent: they belonged to nobody but themselves; but they were more friendly and familiar with any other races of the world about them than was (or is) usual with Big People. According to their own tales they were the original inhabitants and were the descendants of the first Men that ever wandered into the West of the middle-world. Few had survived the turmoils of the Elder Days.
In those days no other being had settled dwellings so far west, or within a hundred leagues of the Shire, but in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers. The Bree-folk called them Rangers, and knew nothing of their origin. They were taller and darker than the Humans of Bree and were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing, and to understand the languages of beasts and birds. They roamed at will southwards, and eastwards even as far as the Misty Mountains; but they were now few and rarely seen. When they appeared they brought news from afar, and told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to; but the Bree-folk did not make friends with them.
Even when Lady Sif saw a number of Rangers in the city, she passed a number of other beings that were wandering the streets at night. Among the beings that Astrans, Centaurs, Easik, K'aitians, Lupak, R'Vaalians, Rock Trolls, Satyrs, and Sivians. A trio of Rock Trolls were seen walking, laughing, and making their way back to their home. A hooded Minotaur walked inside his house and closed the door behind him. An elderly Rock Troll barber, who goes by the name Targo, had been busy cleaning up and throwing a bag filled with hair he shaved from his customers. He was considered the only Rock Troll that lived in the city while those were use to living in the mountains. Sif took out a coin and threw at the table while he wasn't looking and walked upwards towards the Prancing Pony. The inn was described as a large pleasant place of familiar eyes. It had a front on the Road, and two wings running back on land partly cut out of the lower slopes of the hill, so that at the rear the second-floor windows were level with the ground. There was a wide arch leading to a courtyard between the two wings, and on the left under the arch there was a large doorway reached by a few broad steps.
Upon entering, Sif looked around the place and passed through a crowd of customers that were talking, laughing, and drinking. Some of these customers were travelers, spending their time enjoying a place they consider as home. Sif sighed and wasn't intrigued in entering a place like this, but she knew that meeting Gandalf was her top priority. She stopped for a moment and turned her head towards a long gray-bearded man who sleeping with his eyes open at his own table. Lady Sif grinned and made her approach to him. She sat down on the other side of his table and took a moment for him to wake up.
"Mithrandir," Sif spoke towards him.
Gandalf, at a split second, awoke when he heard the woman's voice. He moved his eyes upwards and stared directly at Lady Sif, and gave her an honorable bow and smile. "My Lady Sif, it is good to see you again."
"The honor is mine," Sif grinned.
"So tell me, what brings Lady Sif to Bree?" Gandalf asked about her mission.
"I suppose you know why I'm here?" Sif said, knowing that Gandalf understands all.
"This isn't a social meeting, that I know of," Gandalf said, taking sip of ale.
"Odin sent me to investigate strange incidents that have been happening on Arda," Sif began her explanation. "I don't know why, but we know that many of these Orcs, along with their pets Ologs or Ogres, had been wandering within the borders of each and every lands within Middle-Earth. They are spreading their wings of chaos for a reason."
"Yes, it is true my lady," Gandalf understood what she meant about orcs. "This hasn't happened ever since the Watchful Peace began. Orcs wander north, raiding villages, in search of rings that belonged to the Dúnedain."
"Odin was concerned about this," Sif clicked her tongue. "But I have my theory that they're searching for Isildur's heir."
"The Ring of Barahir," Gandalf began to realize what she was talking about and nodded in whisper. "Of course."
"I suppose one mystery can easily be solved," Sif grinned in approval. "Even for another."
"My lady, we have discussed this ever since he was brought to Rivendell many years ago," Gandalf prompted. "His mother succumbed to grief ever since he was a small boy."
"His time will come," Sif hopefully said. "The descendant of Isildur will return home and claim the throne to restore unity to all Middle-Earth."
"Not if someone like the Defiler would earn that retribution," Gandalf added more about the enemy.
"Impossible?" Sif gasped upon hearing that word and sending her on edge. "I was told he perished in the battle of Moria several decades ago. How is he alive?"
"Its not dark magic that brought him back," Gandalf said, shaking his head. "No. Azog pays homage to someone beyond these borders."
Sif began to suspect something. Even though, despite about hearing about the Defiler being alive and owing his loyalty to someone he serves since the takeover of Moria, it didn't make sense to her at all.
"There must be something at work here, Gandalf, I know for sure," Sif stated. "If what you say is true, then Odin fears that war might come. We may have enjoyed a Watchful Peace, but I do fear that a great evil might rise again."
"Which is why the east must be strengthened," Gandalf proposed his plan to her.
"You waste your time, Mithrandir, enemy numbers from different worlds can increase and they will be the ones that strengthen," Sif calmly argued against Gandalf's plan.
"War has existed for so long in the walls of Arda," Gandalf argued and told her about how much war there was. "The eastern side of the world still remains weakened, nations remain divided ever since the end of the Second Age, Númenór was silenced when the island shattered and all its remains stay under the sea, Smaug bringing ruin to the cities of Dale and Erebor, Celebrimbor, the Lord of Eregion, spends his eternity in the walls of Mordor, and none of us knew who aided the Kree in starting the war a thousand years ago."
"We never forget the stories of Celebrimbor," Sif recalled that name he mentioned seconds ago. "We all know he was deceived by the Nameless Enemy who sought to conquer the whole universe."
Gandalf knew what name she was referring to and remained silent for a moment. He remembered a lot on what happened long ago at the very end of the Second Age, that a great and powerful enemy sought to bring war, order, dominance, and malice.
"And of course we know he was defeated," Gandalf added the tale. "Vanquished. But right now, I fear the enemy seeks to bring Smaug on their side."
"Smaug was once a member of the Council of Realms," Sif remembered. "None of us knew what madness drove him to betray us."
"Smaug is known for his own agenda," Gandalf described. "The treasure within the Lonely Mountain is what made him go mad. He takes Erebor as his own domain, robbing the land that never belonged to him."
"You're asking me to join in your little quest to put an end to Smaug's reign of terror?" Sif wondered what this was about. "Is this what my king assigned me to do?"
"King Odin only sent you here to uncover this mystery," Gandalf answered. "The Defiler wants Thorin dead my lady, but there is something else at work here, and we need to find out. Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien don't know about this, and my job is to help Thorin claim the throne of Erebor. Its his birthright."
Sif sighed and stood up from her chair and openly announced. "I accept. I will not return to Asgard until my mission is done."
"There is one more thing I have to do before we set out," Gandalf brought up one more thing.
"And what would that be?" Sif asked.
"We need a burglar," Gandalf answered with a smile.
Lady Sif returned to Asgard after Heimdall to bring her back. Asgard was known to be one of the most beautiful realms within the universe. It was described as a small, planetary body that serves as home to the Asgardians, a race of beings recognized on Earth by humans as the deities of their Norse mythology, such as Thor, and their ruler, Odin. It is about the size of a small state. It is not round like the Earth, does not spin on its axis, and does not revolve around a star. It is a flat, asteroid-like mass that has a top surface with a gravitational pull, similar to that of the Earth, in order to keep the citizens and their cities from floating into the void. The matter on Asgard is also denser and more durable than the matter on Earth. There is an unknown force that keeps the surfaces of Asgard from eroding and from allowing its bodies of water from drifting off into space. Asgard has unknown intervals of day and night; it is unclear as to whether it uses a sun as a source of light. It likely has seasons of some sort and varied weather conditions such as a light snow.
There were natural nexus portals that exist on Asgard, due to deposits of the wormhole-sensitive, crystal-like materials used in the construction of the Bifrost Bridge, and these portals are in direct contact with the roots of Yggdrasil, the tree-like, cosmic grid that connects the Nine Realms. Heimdall operates and safeguards the Bifrost Bridge from his Observatory. Separately, the Asgardian government operates through a strict monarchy which separates the royal family from regular Asgardians. As for Sif, she traveled a long way to the palace and made her way inside. The guards were quiet once Sif entered and made her way to meet King Odin, who sits quietly amongst the throne while his wife Frigga stands silent. Odin focused his eyes upon Lady Sif, who made a complete halt and kneeled before him. The King of Asgard rose from his seat and walked down the steps to address her.
"You returned?" Odin sighed. "But you have a duty to fulfill. Have you not done as I asked."
"Gandalf sends his regards to you," Sif said, continuing to kneel before him. "He and Prince Thorin Oakenshield are forming a company to reclaim Erebor."
"Hmm, I warned Gandalf about this plan," Odin rebuffed about Gandalf's mission of strengthening Rhovanion. "Its futile…" He turns around and stares at the throne in dismay. "… and suicide. I don't know if my old friend has lost his mind. Does he seek to claim every portion of the treasure that remains under the guard of Smaug, who has betrayed us all?"
"No," Sif answered. "He's just concerned about these recent activities that happened in the past."
"During the Watchful Peace? Orcs plunder Moria, Thror beheaded by a pale monster, and a sickness still lies within the kingdom of Erebor," Odin recalled the past events.
"What is it you fear my lord?" Sif wondered about this.
"Its what I fear," Odin said as he turns around to face directly at her. "Its what you should fear if this sickness should ever infect a member of the line of Durin. Heimdall can see all. He is one of many that possesses tremendous sensory capabilities far beyond. He knows the sickness. What it does? A curse amongst the treasure for anyone to go mad." He then let out a sigh and changed the subject. "Over the past, I've seen many of our kin who chose to leave or were exiled from Asgard. Even though, I know our populations grow in different worlds, such as Sakaar, Nornheim, Midgard, and even Arda itself."
"My lord, does this have anything to do with Ragnarök?" Sif asked that.
"Do not speak of that hear!" Frigga seethed very sharp on Sif for mentioning that.
"Yes," Odin answered in a very calm manner. "The prophecy will be fulfilled once the time arises. No one can prevent it from happening. What will Asgard do once we're prepared for it? In the meantime, while Thor cannot arrive at your aid, you will return to Arda and finish your mission. Right now, I will be going down to meet with Lady Galadriel. I will wish you all the best."
"By your command, my lord," Sif complied. "I will not return until it is done."
"Disgrace for one so foolish, can easily be naive," Odin remarked about Gandalf as he walked pass Sif. "No matter the cost, Gandalf believes what he does best."
Queen Frigga walked right up to her and didn't sound too pleased. "We never speak of Ragnarök."
"I did not mean to offend you, your grace," Sif deeply apologized to the Queen. "Some of us are still frightened of the prophecy, for when it comes, we do not know."
"There will be a time when are prepared for this," Frigga whispered to her. "But not now, we are not ready, and we must look on for what we have to face."
It didn't take long for Gandalf to search for one burglar to join the company of Thorin Oakenshield. Gandalf was concerned about the weak state of the North and knew that the Dwarf lord Thorin planned to battle against Smaug, but he knew that it would not be enough. Ultimately, Gandalf concocted a plan wherein Thorin could destroy Smaug and recover his family fortune, albeit with a "burglar" of Gandalf's own choosing. While Sif had been ready to provide her aid within the company, she disagreed with the idea of Gandalf bringing a hobbit along and making him the company's burglar.
The Shire was known to be large, beautiful, and fruitful country beloved by its inhabitants. The Hobbits had an extensive agricultural system in the Shire, but did not proceed with industrialization. Various supplies could be found in the Shire, including cereals, fruit, wood and pipe-weed. The realm was known to be very populated in parts with many villages and towns in every corner, but it still was open enough to allow for wide forested areas and marshes. The land also had a numerous green, rolling hills and freshly tilled earth, along with gardens and flower boxes on window sills. Its large size, relative lack of importance, and brave and resilient Hobbit population made it too modest an objective for conquest. More important was that the Shire was guarded and protected by the Dúnedain Rangers of the North, including Gandalf, watched the borders and kept out intruders. The only strangers to enter the Shire were the Dwarves travelling on the Great East Road that ran through the Shire to and from their mines in the Blue Mountains, and the occasional Elves on their way to the Emyn Beraid or the Grey Havens.
Days later during the dead of night, Lady Sif was told to meet Gandalf at a place called Bag End, located in Hobbiton. She hoped she would find the mark her companion left for her to find and earn an honorable welcome by the person in charge of the party. She wore her hood up as she walked pass several hobbits that were walking quietly during the night. A few workers were laughing quietly after they finished their hard work down from Bywater and were relieved to return home and rest once they were ready to go back to work tomorrow. Even since Gandalf never told her the hobbit's name, which is something that annoyed her, Sif held her hopes up since it would be the first time to meet with the young hobbit that Gandalf requested. It took her an hour to find the house until she was saw blue light glowing from a door. Sif knew that that was the house she was to find and quickly made her way over there.
Once she reaches the house, she saw how Bag End was like. It was described to be smooth with circle windows. As for the front door, it was very round like a bull's eye and painted green with a shiny yellow brass knob in the heart of the door. She reached the front door, knocked three times, and waited for the person to open the door and let her in. A few seconds pass, the door opens and at a split second, a head pokes out and looks up to stare at the tall Asgardian. It was a Hobbit. His hair was all brown. He wore breeches and a magnificent waistcoat made out of gold. He looked human in a way, but he was short and was inches late thirties. The young hobbit looked quite surprised to see a woman enter his home uninvited. He wasn't happy at all, but since Gandalf requested that every guest was to arrive, he opened the door wide open for her to enter.
"Ah, my lady Sif, you arrived in time," Gandalf cheerfully greeted her.
Sif lowers her hood to reveal her appearance in front of the dwarves and the young hobbit. "I hope I didn't miss anything."
So far, there were thirteen dwarves named Bifur, Bombur, Bofur, Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Dwalin, Balin, Gloin, Oin, and Thorin Oakenshield.
Bifur has the rusting remains of an Orc axe embedded in his forehead, which has rendered him inarticulate and occasionally feisty. He communicates only with Khuzdul and hand gestures. His hair was all black and grey around, and his eyes were brown. Bombur was considered the only dwarf who was obese in the group. His hair and beard were all but ginger. Despite his size he can be surprisingly effective as a fighter – and woe betide anyone who makes him late for dinner.
The dwarf Bofur hailed from a family of dwarven miners that lived in the Blue Mountains. Endearing and likable, Bofur has a disastrous tendency to state the obvious and blurt out things without thinking. With a love of music and a fine singing voice, Bofur delights in good food and good company and is unfailingly optimistic. Though not especially brave, he will do his best to help those in need, especially those he counts as friends.
A distant relative of Thorin Oakenshield, Dori is the eldest amongst his brothers Ori and Nori. He is the strongest in The Company of Dwarves, and spends much of his time watching out for Ori, making sure he hasn't caught a chill or gotten himself killed by Wargs or Goblins. Eternally pessimistic, with a natural tendency to expect the worst, Dori is nonetheless quite prepared to risk life and limb in order to get the job done.
Nori is often in trouble with the Dwarvish authorities. Deciding it might be a good time to leave town, he readily joins the Quest for the Lonely Mountain, not realizing the journey ahead may well lead him into far more trouble than he has left behind. Nobody ever quite knows what the quick-witted and wily Nori is up to, except that it's guaranteed to be dodgy and quite possibly illegal. Despite rarely seeing eye-to-eye with his brothers Dori and Ori, he is nonetheless immensely loyal and will protect them by whatever means possible.
Ori was the younger brother Nori and Dori. He was known to be a talented artist, and can often be found drawing and writing in his journal. It is Ori who chronicles much of the journey through The Wild to the shores of the Long Lake and the slopes of The Lonely Mountain. Polite and well-bred, he is used to being bossed around by his older brother Dori and is usually biddable, although occasionally he can surprise his fellow companions with his courage and determination. Ori is said to be the youngest in the company.
Dwalin was a great warrior of Durin's Folk. He speaks his mind plainly and is not one to suffer fools lightly. Fiercely loyal, he was Thorin Oakenshield's staunchest supporter with an unshakeable belief in his friend's leadership. A powerful and bruising fighter, Dwalin has a natural tendency to distrust anyone who is not a Dwarf and is particularly suspicious of Elves. Proud, brave and one of the tallest of the Dwarves, Dwalin will bow to none but those who have earned his respect.
Balin was a descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right. He was considered to be one of the oldest members of the company of Dwarves. Balin is portrayed to be the wiser, more social and skeptical individual in Thorin and Company. He is kind, sly and brave, an excellent fighter. Thorin, at one point, quoted on Balin's skill as a fighter. He develops an essentially strong relationship with the other Dwarves he travelled with and was willing to fight alongside them for any cause. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisers – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.
Along with his brother Gloin, Oin was a distant cousin of Thorin Oakenshield. A brave Northern Dwarf, Oin joins The Company of Thorin Oakenshield out of a sense of loyalty to his kin, and also because he has a substantial sum of money invested in the venture. Well read, with an inquiring mind, Oin was the healer among the Company, often applying an herbal salve of his own invention – which has since come to be known as 'ointment' after its maker.
Thorin was the first one to approach her first and gave her an honorable bow. Unlike any other dwarf, he looked much different and more charming like his two nephews Fili and Kili. He wore a sky blue cloak and his hair was both black and gray.
"Its an honor to see you again," Thorin greeted her with a rich and honorable voice.
"I never forget every face on Arda," Sif said.
"Hmm, tell your King I send my deepest honor for sending you instead of Thor," Thorin concluded. "I would've wanted to have him in our company as well. He's a great fighter like you."
"Hmm," Sif chuckled. "Well, I'm pretty sure I'll tell him that."
Sif gave Thorin an open look of disdain, believing he was trying to insult her, but since he gave her an honorable compliment, her face changed to a cheerful look. She even remembered a time when she and Thor paid a visit to Erebor where they met Thorin. Thor and Thorin became good friends; enjoying the drinks and talking their own tales in the past. However, she felt deeply disappointed to herself since she and Thor had left Erebor a few weeks before Smaug invaded the kingdom. Sif wished that she and Thor could've stayed at Erebor a bit longer in order to prevent Smaug from bringing his reign of terror to the kingdom, but now as decades pass, she had a chance and would stay on Arda once the mission was done. Even though, she wished Thor and the Warriors Three that would come too.
"I'm sure you'll see Thor very soon," Gandalf firmly promised Thorin.
"Beg your pardon, but who is this Thor you mention about?" Bilbo simply asked since he never heard of him before in his life.
"I'm sure that can be later Mr. Baggins," Gandalf told him to wait on that for later. "And of course where are my manner, Bilbo, may I introduce you to Lady Sif of Asgard."
"How do you do?" Bilbo choked.
"The pleasure is mine… halfling," Sif said, giving him an eye and walked pass him.
"So where's supper?" Thorin asked any member of his company. "I'm starving."
An hour later, everyone gathered together in the small dining room table. Everyone, except Bilbo who sat on a table behind Gandalf, were seated and watched as Thorin was enjoying a delicious soup that Bifur prepared for him. Lady Sif was hardly hungry, but was given a mug filled with ale. She even heard whispers of the dwarves mentioning about Sif, believing that she reminded of someone who had the ability to brainwash individuals and fall under her spell forever. However, Lady Sif was not like that. She was one of Erebor's greatest allies that the dwarves ever had since Smaug took over.
"What news from the meeting at Ered Luin?" Balin asked his fellow heir. "Did they all come?"
"Aye, envoys of all seven kingdoms received my message," Thorin confirmed and turned to Sif, who sat next to him. "Thanks to my old friend Hermod, who couldn't join us tonight."
A joy of whispers was heard around the room. The dwarves were pleased to hear the news, something that they and Balin hoped for. Sif was pleased to hear this well and even remembered the name Hermod. He was the younger brother of Thor, but recently been exiled by his father for unknown reasons and had been living on the planet Nornheim, ruled by King Njord Burison. After Njord lost his son Haldor, he would pass the title to Hermod since he was his grandson.
"Aye Hermod," Balin recalled about his name. "He would've been one of the best champions to join this company. His speed is incredible."
Dwalin, who was the younger brother of Balin, chose to speak amongst this quiet meeting and wondered if Thorin was able to reach out to more. "What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"
Thorin paused for a moment and sighed in deep disappointment and regret. "They will not come."
"And what've the dwarves of Nidavellir?" Fili asked Lady Sif about them. "Have they answered?"
"And don't forget the Warriors Three," Kili added that as well since his uncle told him stories about them.
"There has been no news from them," Sif answered. "The Warriors Three remain separate for now."
"So what does that mean?" Ori asked, sounding worried and unhappy as he was ready to cry.
"It means this quest that Thorin and Gandalf proposed is ours, and ours alone," Sif told him and the others around the room. "It is for the best."
"She's right," Thorin nodded. "This is how many we are. We cannot wait for more to arrive. We must make our preparations to leave by tomorrow."
The dwarves changed their joy to disappointment. It seems that Dain's support had been critical since the taking of Erebor and Moria. Lady Sif already knew the reason why Dain and his people couldn't help since they believed this quest was too much of a risk and none of them could ever slay a dragon.
"If only there were others that could come and aid us," Fili wished. "They would've been strong enough to go with us on this quest."
"So this is what you've all come to discuss, a quest?" Bilbo asked in interest. "What quest is this?"
Gandalf was pleased to hear that tone of interest while he had been smoking from his weed pipe. He then turns to the young hobbit and asked. "Bilbo, why don't you let us have a little more light."
Bilbo complied to that and went over to fetch a candle from the table and placed right in between Gandalf and Thorin. Once the candle gently touched the ground of the table, Gandalf took a moment to take out a map from his pocket.
"Now, I know King Odin sent Lady Sif to be part of this important expedition, she will aid us in our cause, but in some places, she and I will have to solve some important clues," Gandalf said as he began to spread out a map for everyone to see. The map was very old, no one knew how old it was, but Sif could tell that this map contained a riddle that was made by the Dwarves long ago. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
Bilbo read the map and responded the three words it send above the drawing of the mountain. "The Lonely Mountain."
"Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time," Gloin openly declared.
"Word has been reached from my mountaineers that Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold," Oin explained what had been happening. "Its all passed around in every corner of Middle-Earth."
When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end.
Bilbo felt stunned when he heard the word 'beast'. He felt a light tingle in his heart, thinking that this beast could be terrifying. The terror in his face made him look concerned. "Uh, what beast are you talking about?"
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age," Bofur began to explain describe on what the beast was like. "Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals."
"So its a dragon then?" Bilbo answered what Bofur had meant. "A dragon?"
"Tell me Mr. Baggins, have you ever encountered a dragon before?" Sif asked him.
"No," Bilbo answered with a loud gulp. "Absolutely not." Then he decided to ask her the same thing. "You?"
"More than a dozen," Sif answered. "Thor killed more than I, but they are very difficult to kill."
"So that's why your joining on this quest!" Ori sounded surprised and openly declared. "With an Asgardian on our side, I'm not afraid at all! I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!"
"Good lad, Ori!" Nori shouted in laughter.
The rest of the Dwarves joined in by shouting and laughing of Bri's plan to beat the beast. Even though, Sif knew that the youngest dwarf of the company wouldn't stand a chance to defeat a massive flying brute by himself. It would just be suicide.
"Oh, will you please sit down Ori," Dori yapped, giving his relative an order to get back on his seat.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us," Balin informed them of the their task. "Just because we have on Asgardian on our side, we number just thirteen dwarves in this room, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."
"Sorry, what did he say?" Oin asked, since he was half-deaf and had no idea what Balin had said.
"Ere, who are you calling dim?" Nori asked, objecting what Balin said.
"Watch it!" Gloin growled.
"No!" Dwalin shook his head in disapproval of what his brother said.
That was when Fili took the four to speak in this meeting. He waited a while to earn the chance to speak towards his kin and to his uncle Thorin. Fili was born into the royal line of Durin and raised under the stern guardianship of his uncle, Thorin Oakenshield. Along with his brother Kili, Fili is one of the youngest dwarves of The Company. He has never travelled far, nor ever seen the fabled Dwarf City of Erebor. He had blond hair and blue eyes. His younger brother Kili was very loyal to his uncle as well. He is somewhat reckless, but has led a charmed and untroubled life to this point. Handsome and physically able, Kíli possesses the invincible courage of youth. He is a skilled fighter and expert archer, having been trained with weapons from an early age. As one of the youngest of the Company of Dwarves, Kíli is determined to make his mark and prove his worth to his uncle like his older brother Fili.
"We may be few in number… but we're fighters," Fili said, hoping to gain the support of every dwarf in this room to consider in helping his uncle's quest to reclaim the lost kingdom. "But we're fighters, all of us." He then slapped the table with his bare fist. "To the last dwarf!"
"And you forget, like Balin said, we have an Asgardian and a wizard in our company," Kili added as well. "Lady Sif is a great fighter, and Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
Gandalf was surprised by this while he smoked on his weed pipe and dampened. "Oh, well, now, uh, I-I-I wouldn't say that, I…"
"How many, then?" Dori interrupted.
"Uh, what?" Gandalf answered, pretending that he didn't hear Dori's question since he never fought dragons before.
"Well, how many dragons have you killed?" Dori plainly asked.
Gandalf embarrassedly starts coughing on his pipe. Smoke was coming out very quick out of his mouth as if he was about to give in the exact number of dragons he encountered in his time. Sif knew Gandalf didn't encounter dragons and would not bare to answer Dori's question.
"What's he saying?" Oin asked.
"He's trying to tell us," Kili stated.
"Go on, give us a number!" Dori demanded, wanting the answer.
The dwarves jump to their feet, arguing about the number of dragons Gandalf has killed. They tried guessing and tried to say out the numbers, but now answer.
Bilbo couldn't stand this and tried to ask them to calm down. "Uh, excuse me. Please."
"No more!" Thorin bellowed and then jumps up in anger to even yell in anger, this time in his own tongue. "SHAZARA!" (SILENCE!)
The Dwarves were silent upon hearing Thorin's word in dwarvish. They stop shouting and sat back on their seats to listen to what their leader and future king would say to them in this room.
"Asgard has a true purpose," Thorin began to explain. "The people there have been one of our great allies for a long time ever since Thror ruled with the exact authority in the kingdom of our forefathers. I was named after the mighty Thor, who creates thunder and wrath towards his enemies. If he were hear in this very room, he would never decline to slay that monster!" He slammed his fist on the table. He was silent for a moment and went on. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look 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? So… who among you will help me seize this chance to take back Erebor?"
"I will fight with you!" Sif shouted in declare, raising her weapon high up as sign that she would help. "For Asgard!"
Thorin shouted in his language again. "Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" (To arms! To arms!)
All the dwarves cheered to their leader's call to arms. However, the only dwarf in this room that didn't cheer was Balin. He was not happy of this since there was something that forgot to mention earlier.
"My liege, I do not mean to decline this," Balin spoke out to the group. "But have you forgetten what had happened ever since we abandoned the home we desired. The front gate is sealed. Smaug sealed it to keep anyone from coming into the mountain to steal the treasure we forged. There is no way in. It would take days."
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true," Gandalf said as he twiddled his fingers to reveal an ancient dwarfish key that was ornately wrought.
Thorin looks at it in wonder and asked softly in awe. "How came you by this?"
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping," Gandalf answered his question and hands the key to him. "It is yours now."
"If there is a key, then there must be a door," Sif stated. "A hidden one that would take days for it to be found."
"How is it that we can find such a door that hasn't been discovered for ages?" Fili asked.
Gandalf points at runes on his map with his pipe and began to explain what he knows about what the map holds. "These runes speak of a hidden passage that leads to the lower halls. The door is well hidden outside of where the main entrance is. I can't guarantee how easy it will be."
"No matter the outcome, dwarf doors are invisible when closed," Sif reminded the wizard.
"And so they are," Gandalf coughed a bit and went on. "Now the answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and neither Lady Sif nor I don't have the skill to find it. 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. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"Now that we have our Lady Sif as one of our own in this company, we need a burglar too," Ori said.
"That's the last thing we need," Balin declared, staring at Bilbo.
"Hm, well it has to be a good one, too," Bilbo said. "An expert, I'd imagine.
Gloin turned to face the young hobbit and asked. "And are you?"
Bilbo was confused, whether the dwarf was talking about him. "Am I what?"
The half-deaf dwarf Oin misheard him and thought he was a burglar and laughed in delight. "He said he's an expert! Hey hey!"
"No, he did not say that," Sif sighed in frustration.
"M—Me? No, no, no, no, no!" Bilbo exclaimed correctly to the dwarves. "I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life."
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins," Balin agreed to the Mr. Baggins' point. "He's hardly burglar material."
"Nope," Bilbo nodded.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves," Dwalin agreed to his brother's point in not wanting to bring the young hobbit along.
"And he's not even a fighter at all," Sif described his appearance. "Doesn't have the muscle to handle such dangerous tactics outside this realm."
Bilbo nods to Sif, Dwalin, and Balin's agreement. Despite being trustful that he hadn't stolen anything in his life, he was pleased that they were right about him since he was not even well-equipped to handle such a dangerous job that he wasn't comfortable. Sif knew that Bilbo wasn't interested in this mission, and so she would hate to hear what Gandalf had to say. However, due to Bilbo's refusal, Oin, Ori, Fili, and Kili started to argue since they believed that Bilbo was well suited to be part of this company since Thorin needed a burglar. Even though, Thorin knew it was risky to bring a hobbit along and feared for his safety.
"He'll manage just fine," Kili argued.
The arguing continued to arise even louder, not even Thorin, Balin, nor Sif joined in the fray. Every time the dwarves argued to agree or disagree that Bilbo Baggins should be a burglar or not. Bilbo continued to nod, agreeing to the ones that shouldn't make him a burglar. That was when Gandalf started to grow furious at this, seeing this nothing but an absolute nonsense. As he rises to his full height, he used his power to cast a shadowy darkness all over the group and the whole room around. Everything was starting to shake a bit as the Grey Wizard casts the darkness. Thorin and Sif ignored it, knowing that they've seen this happen before when the wizard grew angry over bickering.
"Enough!" Gandalf deeply yelled. "If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."
The dwarves all stopped yelling, bickering, and arguing when they saw what Gandalf did. Even Bilbo was silent and shocked what he saw on how the wizard did all that. After Gandalf remained calm and goes back to his normal self, the shadow around the room faded quickly. Gandalf sat back down and then took the time to go on.
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet," Gandalf explained about them. "In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself." He turns to Sif and Thorin with a knowing look on his face. "You must trust me on this."
"I trust you, Gandalf," Sif said. "But putting the life of a small halfling is not what I recommend." She turns around to look at Bilbo. "He must decide himself whether he chooses this assignment or not."
"We will do it your way on one condition," Thorin agreed to Gandalf's suggestion in bringing the hobbit along.
"No, no, no," Bilbo slowly declined, not wanting to get involved in this important business.
Thorin ignored Bilbo and turned to order Balin. "Give him the contract."
"Please," Bilbo nervously pleaded.
"Alright, we're off!" Bofur exclaimed in excitement.
"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth," Balin explained about what was on the contract just as he hands it to the frightened hobbit.
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo anxiously replied, hearing about funeral arrangements.
"Why did you put funeral arrangements in that contract?" Sif demanded.
"It wasn't my writing," Balin told her truthfully.
Bilbo was nervous. He takes a moment to read the contract Balin gave him. He didn't want to take part in this quest, but he would not decline to read it and find more. Mr. Baggins takes a few feet away from the room and reads it quietly without anyone looking.
Thorin leans toward Sif and whispers to her. "I know we cannot guarantee his safety."
"Understood," Sif whispered, nodding her head.
"Nor will we be responsible for his fate," Thorin told her quietly.
"Agreed," Sif whispered and sighed. "As long as I prevent that from happening, he should live."
Bilbo reads parts of the contract out loud now. "Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit, if any. Seems fair. Eh, Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence there of including but not limited to lacerations ... evisceration… incineration?"
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye," Bofur stated, smoking his weedpipe.
Bilbo looks a little breathless now. "Huh."
"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked.
Bilbo bends over, feeling as if he felt like he was going to throw up. "Uh, yeah… feel a bit faint."
"Think furnace with wings," Bofur offered a solution to fix the hobbit's problem.
"Bofur," Sif tried to prevent him from making it worst.
"Air, I-I-I need air," Bilbo breathed rapidly.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof… you're nothing more than a pile of ash," Bofur finished.
Bilbo breathes heavily, trying to compose himself as the others, including Thorin, Gandalf, and Sif, stare at him. "Hmmm. Nope." Then suddenly, he falls on the floor.
"Ah, very helpful, Bofur," Sif sighed heavily in annoyance for what Bofur just did to scare Bilbo even more.
"Oh thank you, my lady," Bofur gratefully replied, thinking he was given a complement from her and bowed his head. "Thank you."
Sif sighed in ignorance for what Bofur had said, and stands up from her chair and walks over to kneels down to where Bilbo was lying, and checks on the poor hobbit. "He'll live." She then picked him up with the might of her strength and took him over to the living room. "Barely."
For hours, Bilbo had been sitting alone in the living room at his nice comfortable chair, shivering and clutching while holding his mug of warm tea to help calm the nerves in his system. Lady Sif had been watching and didn't say a word at all as Bilbo and Gandalf were having a one-on-one discussion.
"I'll be alright, just let me sit quietly for a moment," Bilbo insisted some privacy.
Gandalf gazes down at him with a look of disappointment in his eyes. "You've been sitting quietly for far too long. Tell me, when did doliles and your mother's dishes become so important to you? I remember a young hobbit who was always running off in search of elves in the woods. He'd stay out late, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young hobbit who would have liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire. The world is not in your books and maps. It's out there."
"I can't just go running off into the blue!" Bilbo loudly argued against the idea in joining the company Gandalf recommended. "I am a Baggins of Bag End!"
"You are also a Took," Gandalf controverted and brushed the hobbit's claim of being bound to living in the Shire like every member of his clan. Not willing to give up, he then points directly at a picture of a hobbit. "Did you know that your great-great-great-great uncle, Bullroarer Took was so large he could ride a real horse?"
"Yes," Bilbo annoyingly answered.
"Well, he could!" Gandalf exclaimed and lowered his voice to explain more about what Bullroarer had done in the past. "In the Battle of Green Fields, he charged the goblin ranks. He swung his club so hard, it knocked the Goblin King's head clean off, and it sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole. And thus the battle was won, and the game of golf was invented at the same time."
"I do believe you made that up," Bilbo scoffed, thinking more to it as a joke that the wizard was telling him.
Gandalf sits himself across from Bilbo and says. "Well, all good stories deserve embellishment. You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back.
"Can you promise that I will come back?" Bilbo wondered if Gandalf would promise his safe return from this quest he would be part of.
"No," Gandalf answered, shaking his head. "But if you do, you will not be the same."
"That's what I thought," Bilbo responded with a sigh as he stood himself up from his chair. "I'm sorry, Gandalf, but I can't sign this. You've got the wrong hobbit.
Bilbo leaves the contract on the mantle and exits the sitting room. Gandalf watches him leave, vividly disappointed for what Bilbo had said. Sif, Thorin, and Balin were standing together in the hallway, watching Bilbo enter his bedroom alone to get as much rest as possible until morning.
"It appears you have lost your burglar," Sif sighed. "Perhaps its for the best then."
"Aye, she's right," Balin agreed. "Why did we have to travel so far from the Blue Mountains just for this? Hmm, The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toymakers; hardly the stuff of legend."
"There are a few warriors amongst us," Thorin counted.
"Old warriors," Balin added.
"I will take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills," Thorin said. "For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty, honor, a willing heart. I can ask no more than that."
"You don't have to do this," Balin pleaded. "You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built us a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor."
"The treasure in that mountain means nothing to me and my people," Sif told them. "I agree with Balin. Why risk our lives for this quest?"
"She does make a good point," Balin counted his agreement to Sif.
Thorin withdraws the Dwarvish key from his pocket. He holds it before Sif and Balin for them to see. "From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice. Not for me."
"Then we are with you, laddie," Balin deeply sighed by placeing a supportive hand on Thorin's shoulder. "We'll see it done."
Later that night, all the dwarves gather together in the living room where they were sitting down quiet, smoking their pipes by the fireplace. During their moment of silence, they all begin humming, and soon Thorin begins to sing, and the others join him.
Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To find our long-forgotten gold
The pines were roaring on the height
The winds were moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light