Fandom: The Hobbit
Summary: A stubborn headed ranger joins the company unaware of the treasure she is about to find.
Pairings: FilixOC ThorinxBilbo
Chapter warnings: alcohol mentioned
In a house at the end of the main street of Bree there lived a woman. In fact, many women lived here, and many men visited, perhaps even considered it their second home. A group of women exited the establishment, linking arms their laughter flittered into the air as they strolled down into the Prancing Pony. Entering the bustling inn for the evening many of the younger, lesser dressed girls began to float around the room showing off what they had to offer, if paid well. The one who stood out amongst them headed straight to a single stool, off to the side of the bar she had to leap using her arms to push up to make the height.
"Evening Arabelle." The bar maid smiled as a little bit of ale sloshed over the edge of the jug as it was placed down.
"Evening Hilda." The women smiled as their faces drew nearer for conversation "I dealt with that unsettled tab of our friends." She slid the cash over the counter, Hilda smiling and placing the funds aside.
"I hear a group of dwarves entered town today." Hilda commented as she polished some jugs, her drinking companion stopped mid sip to raise an eyebrow pushing Hilda to continue "Thirteen of them and a wizard! Ain't ever seen so many, be good for business I reckon."
"I hope you have bought up some extra barrels if what I am to know is true." Arabelle continued to drink. Whatever else she was about to say was cut short as a parade of dwarves began to pile into the bar, loud creatures they summoned for a round of the finest ale to be bought to the table. Both women struggled to hold back their smiles as Hilda moved to get the 'good' stuff from the back.
"Be sure to charge double for that." Arabelle winked as Hilda laughed, a cough from behind pulling her attention away.
"Miss, was hoping to give you this." The man offered out his hand which had some coins tucked in it "Sorry been so late but appreciate your help escorting my family the other day."
"No need to apologise, enjoyed their company. Tell Marie I said hello." Arabelle smiled and turned back to her drink, putting the extra money behind the bar for she was sure to spend it here.
"Oi I told you to keep your money." Hilda hissed as she finally returned from serving the still noisy group of dwarves, Arabelle ignored her as she scanned the group carefully. They seemed jovial, splashing around their drinks as they cheered and laughed. They had money to spend as she noted finer travel clothes, many of them wore rings and what Arabelle assumed were jewels in their hair. She felt her mouth pull down as her eyes observed the weapons, each of them carried at least one, though not uncommon in these parts she didn't like a large group of armed men.
"Bit hairy for me personally." Hilda smirked as she too had apparently been checking out the group of men, though seemingly for a different reason. "Plus, far too short for me."
"I dunno they have their charm, especially the ones at the end there." Arabelle's eyes fell to what she figured must be the younger of the group, one's blonde hair and beard has multiple little braids and he had at least three weapons she could see. The others darker beard was short if anything compared to all the others though his smile screamed trouble. He was smiling and looking at her. They both were. Shit.
"Hey Arabelle, we are heading back for the night." A young woman jumped between her and the dwarves which were definitely looking in their direction, of course Jessalee had this effect on most men.
"I'll finish my drink and head back soon. Be sure to give a nod to our rich dwarven friends on the way out." Arabelle said as they shared a knowing smile.
"Looks like you won't have to work too hard, here comes one now." Hilda nodded behind them as Jessalee pushed back her hair, puffed out her chest and twirled around with a grace that Arabelle noted she could never possess. The women she surrounded herself with, all beautiful with slender bodies and curves in all the right places, she had once hated women like them but over time she had found herself to truly enjoy their company. Yet as she looked to her reflection in her ale, she allowed herself a moment of pity for the face that stared back, but only a moment.
"Two of whatever the lady is drinking." Arabelle smirked a little, trust Jessalee to have a man hooked and buying her drinks in a matter of minutes. "Wine. She drinks wine." Arabelle said as she gave a little side eye to the blonde dwarf that had come up to take the spare spot beside her; by the stars he was handsome, also it was four weapons.
"Really cause that looks like ale to me." The dwarf spoke as a matter of fact and Arabelle near covered poor Hilda head to toe as she spluttered out the contents of her mouth.
"Are you flirting with me?" Arabelle choked down the remainder of her drink as she turned to look at the now stunned dwarf, his face getting redder by the second.
"I'm sorry that was actually my brothers pick up line." The blonde stammered motioning back to the table where the younger brunette dwarf sat staring at them with a gleam in his eyes and a grin that near split his face in two. And while the blonde continued to mumble more words Arabelle's eyes drifted from his brother to the two late comers to the group of dwarves. The wizard, Gandalf the Grey, Arabelles face twitched into brief disapproval before she saw who walked behind him.
"Bilbo?" She spoke the words as her brain processed what she was seeing, Bilbo Baggins was in Bree.
"No. His name is Kili." The blonde interjected as he followed the young woman's eyes and while her voice had not been loud, she was loud enough for the keen ears of the hobbit.
"Belle?" He locked eyes with her
"Bilbo!" "Belle!" The two met mid-way, bodies colliding into each other for an embrace neither knew they needed.
"It has been too long." Bilbo said as they finally pulled apart, Arabelle looking slightly guilty for she knew it was her own fault for the time between meetings and yet this was not the place to talk about such things. She was keenly aware of the rather large group of eyes staring at them.
"How are you?" She asked as her own eyes inspected the hobbit; his clothes were in keen need of a wash.
"I am good, in fact I am travelling-" Bilbo was rudely interrupted by some not so subtle coughs and as they looked up to the group of dwarves Arabelle noted Bilbo shift uncomfortably under the firm stare of the largest of them. His blue eyes boring into Bilbo, Arabelle settled for a stare twice as unnerving as she moved her body to be between them.
"Bilbo how long are you in Bree for?" She asked in a hushed tone. "We leave morning after next." He answered.
"You are safe for tonight?" She didn't look back as a few dwarves voiced their displeasure at the implications of her statement. "Yes. Yes, I am fine." Bilbo hushed her concern.
"Good, meet me here tomorrow morning at ten." She smiled as Bilbo nodded, they embraced briefly before she stood, levelled one final glare at the dwarven leader and left; leaving a blonde haired dwarf with two ales and a rather sad expression.