Just went to my homecoming dance! Masquerade! Since I'm still pumped from wearing a dress and mask, this is how I want to start my chapter. I'm so glad you enjoyed the last one. I can't wait to write the action sequences.
Chapter 9
She was surrounded by darkness, cold stone carved in craftsmanship, shaped like the rough edged of a diamonds; an ocean of green-jade lighting from the radiating seams of gold, running like rivers through quartz, across the caverns that stretched like a behemoth and beyond. There were massive pillars that were structured geometrically and figuratively, winding stairs that crisscrossed in the gloom like a twisting labyrinth, plunging abysses, roaring fires, jade floors, curved walls deeply engraved with runes and symbols, narrow corridors, sloping passages, walkways formed into beautiful bridges, one in particular that crossed a great chasm toward a center island platform bearing a throne carved in white stone. In the center was a bright, white light, frosty and transcendent, like an evening star. The portal? She saw everything at once, passing and going, in the blink of an eye, an underground city with the beauty of architectural surrounding unequal to any other.
Far over the Misty Mountains cold
Too dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To find our long-forgotten gold...
Thorin's haunting, lulling voice still echoed through her mind like the air breathing the mountain. Gold entranced her vision, glittering and glowing like the veins from the ceiling, littered with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. She was lost in the kingdom of luxury, a kingdom of history, a kingdom that blew the imagination of many. Yet, it was a blur...fading...the sound of a harp, a flute, and a gondola playing soft music...
Now standing in the center of a great hall, the jade floor glowing around her feet, she was surrounded by dwarves. Their hairs and beards were all intricately styled in braids and silver studs and beads, their clothing in many flowing colors, some with tattooed faces and earrings, but there was not one dwarf in the entire room that did not have one piece of jewelry on them. Even the women had beards, though most had them shorter or braided in a way that made it look more feminine. Some just had wispy sideburns.
One dwarf maiden amongst the others was the most beautiful of all, twirling her blue silver dress as danced with harp's melody. The dress was glittering in silver designs from all the way up her corset, her sleeves flowing slightly. She had long, wavy dark hair that past her waist, but was lightly woven in braids and tied in diamonds. She wore a glittering diadem woven in diamonds and sapphires that shaped to her forehead. She was laughing, her musical voice echoing the caverns, her smile wide and bright on her delicate features, making her cheeks rosy with delight. Though her soft jaw had the faint wisps of dark hair barely seen, her sideburns tied in thin braids, she was very young. Barely a child, between eleven and thirteen. Her deep blue eyes held a mischievous twinkle in them...much like...
The vision dissipated, showing the view of a magnificent view from the outside of the mountain, showing a large city walled around the outside, the mountain's rooted walls framed by giant dwarf monoliths carved from stone. The balcony ran along the side...the winds blew hot and heavy around her...the music becoming muffled from its heavy sound...the moon shining from the night sky full of stars, seemingly peaceful...until a large shadow passed over the luminescence...
"Balin!" A deep voice called out, and she turned to see Thorin-a much younger Thorin-running up the stairs in frantic haste. Though the same height, he was leaner, his beard longer and tied in in silver beads, his hair lacked its silver streaks, and his face was softer, making him look in between fifteen and seventeen years-old, though tall and mature for his age. He was incredibly handsome, looking very much like someone she knew. His blue eyes were less steely and cold, but were still hardened with a strong sense of purpose. He was dressed in deep blue and black tunic traced with silver, a dark cloak, and muddied boots, his sword at his side and a bow and arrows strung over his back. He looked to be back from hunting. "Balin, sound the alarm!" A flag crashed them, making everyone flinch back. "Call out the guard! Do it now!"
A shorter and older dwarf with mousy brown hair and silver streaks-Balin, she recognized-rushed over to the pacing Thorin, looking alarmed and equally aware of the strong winds and changing surroundings of the night. "What is it?"
Thorin turned to look at Balin, his features grim. "Dragon!" he said hoarsely, fear evident in his voice. That fear began to show more as his eyes widened toward the sky, and he whipped around to bellow across the balcony toward the festival of dancing dwarves, "DRAGON!" His voice echoed across the caverns. Everyone froze, the music, the dancing...time had stopped. The dwarf maiden froze, her smile instantly changing to horror as she looked up and pointed with a high-pitched scream, "THORIN!"
The girl's scream was answered by a thunderous roar that made the mountain tremble. Thorin and Balin tensed and both turned around with wide eyes. She followed their gaze and looked up. The starry sky was completely blocked by enormous shape...the air became blazing hot...and soon the world exploded full a HOT, BRIGHT FIRE...
Maia woke up with a heavy gasp. She was sweating, the room hot and stuffy. She felt a pillow underneath her head and sheets surrounding her, but she was still wearing her yoga pants and jacket. Turning her head, there was the fireplace, the kindling now fading into faint embers, but it still radiated heat in the bedroom.
"Ah, man," she groaned softly, wiping her hands over sweat-framed eyelids. What a dream! That "Misty Mountain" song really got to her. And it felt so real, the dwarves, the palace, everything. The song had been really descriptive. The hot winds in the dream definitely came from the fireplace, though.
When she sat, her hair matted and damp, she quickly shrugged off her jacket until her tank top shown, her bare skin still damp. Next to her on the canopy bed, Kyle lay sprawled next to Lori, both of them also sweaty from the heat, but their breathing was even and undisturbed. Maia frowned. How did they get in here? She only remembered sitting on the floor with Kyle in the living room, staring at the hearth, listening to the song, drifting off...did the dwarves carry her and her siblings in here? She wondered which ones did the honor.
She then noticed that their door was closed a crack and sighed heavily. It was a wonder the room was so freaking hot! Tying her hair into a ponytail, she got up, barefoot, and went to open the door. Once the cooler air hit her, she stepped out into the hallway, the only sound in the house was the loud snoring of dwarves coming from the sitting room. With a guilty start, she realized that they must have camped out in there for the night. They haven't even wandered into Bilbo's three other guest rooms; at least, she didn't think so.
Some host I am, she thought, but also to her defense, Well, it's not my house, either, so I guess that's Bilbo's fault.
She went to one of the bathrooms (one whose plumbing still worked) and splashed water on her face, shaking off the dreams still echoing her mind like the song from last night. She wondered if the song really was magical, because of how it delved deeply into her brain and created the story of her dreams. It was weird and amazing at the same time.
Still feeling hot, Maia decided to cool off outside. Checking Bilbo's clock, it was four in the morning (she was glad to set her watch that way, since Middle Earth seemed to run at a twelve hour difference than America). Opening the front door, she stepped out on the doorstep, wrapping her arms around herself when feeling the much cooler wind sweep her long hair back. Hobbiton was still too dark to see, but the horizon beyond the hills of the Shire were golden, causing the dawn to turn a shade of purple.
Maia inhaled the clean, chilly air and closed eyes, breathing into the peace of this beautiful country. She was going to miss this. It felt like a second home, and a little bit like the beauty of Texas. They were both places where she could live the rest of her life in. She would savor this, because today, her and her brother and sister were going to the Lonely Mountain. And there, she hoped, would be a wormhole back to her world. It had to be.
"Beautiful, is it?" Maia squeaked in surprise and turned to see Gandalf sitting on the garden bench, chuckling at his smoked his pipe. "To watch the sun set, and then to see it rise again. I always find the Shire one of the most peaceful places ever to come by, but this...here on The Hill, to watch the sky turn golden from where the world awaits ahead, is a moment to truly savor. That, and with a little good Old Toby."
"Old Toby?" asked Maia.
"A weed popular in the Shire. The one I am smoking now. Very soothing for the mind." Gandalf sucked in his pipe and formed his lips into an O shape, carefully blowing out the smoke...which then formed into the shape of a ship. Maia watched with a stunned expression, a soft laugh escaping her as she watched it sail over the view of Hobbiton.
"How did you…..?"
"I have been doing this for two thousand years, my girl. There are many shapes I can do from where that came from. Like learning how to whistle," he added cheerfully.
Maia blinked at him. "I'm sorry...what?" she gaped. "Two thousand years?"
"Or something around that mark. I lost count," he admitted. "Too much has happened in my lifetime to keep track of my own age. I've grown old, you see." He patted the bench beside him and a astonished Maia came over, sitting next to him. They watched the sunrise in silence.
"How long is this quest going to take?" Maia asked after a while.
"Hm," Gandalf puffed his smoke thoughtfully. "It's a quite a long trek we have to cross from the Shire to the Misty Mountains. Then we will have cross the Misty Mountains, which may take a bit of time to climb over. Then there's the Greenwood Forest, which will be another long trip to take from the mountains. The Greenwood is quite a large forest to cross, but right outside its eastern borders is Esgaroth...and then Erebor, neighboring with the ruins of Dale. So, if I can recall every journey from Erebor to the Shire, or as far as Bree, as it was the last time I made such a trip...I would say around four or five months. Six, if there was some delay."
"Six months?" repeated Maia, feeling a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Isn't there, like, a short cut we can take, or some quicker way to get there?"
"That is the short cut, Miss Maia. If there was a faster way that we could afford, I dare say Thorin Oakenshield himself would be delighted. But there are parts of nature that do not offer parts of itself too kindly, and all we can do is respect it and move on. It's not the end of the world, my dear. It's the way the people of Middle Earth have always traveled."
"Sucks for them," muttered Maia. Then she sighed and rubbed her temples to fight off a headache. Her grandparents were going to have to sweat a little longer than she hoped. I miss airplanes. "So, what time do we leave?"
"In an hour."
Maia perked up in surprise. "So soon? But they're still asleep."
"They should be awakening around now. By the time they are ready, we will be heading to the Green Dragon's Inn to fetch the supplies. Then there is breakfast to worry about, since Bilbo's pantry is presently limited on edible choices. Did you and your kin finish packing yet?"
"Last night. But what about Bilbo? Shouldn't we wake him and let him know when we're leaving?"
Gandalf shook his head. The sunrise reflected brightly from his eyes. "No, I suggest you don't. You have said your good-byes and a second time would only make it harder. Besides..." He looked at her with a thoughtful expression. "I do not believe that this is settled yet."
"What do you mean?" Maia paused. Then she knew. "You think Bilbo's gonna change his mind?" Gandalf smiled. "Uh, I hate to break it to you, Gandalf, but it didn't look like that was gonna happen any time soon. He made it pretty clear, even when Lori was upset."
Gandalf shrugged. "We shall see." Then emptying the ashes of his pipe, he started to stand up. "We best be heading inside. If we are start this journey, I believe the most we can worry about is which of the three of you are going to share a ride?"
"A ride on horses?"
"Ponies," he corrected her. "We have three spare ones, but they will have too much luggage to have much room. All the same, I think we can manage." Maia groaned and dropped her heads in her hands in distress. "What is wrong, my dear girl?"
"What the hell was I thinking?" she complained loudly, not looking up. "So far, the only thing I know I can do is ride a horse. Or a pony, but that's it. Everything else, especially what those dwarves threw in my face, as if they expected me to...Ugh, I can't believe I was so stupid! I feel so useless!"
"Now, Maia Dainson, you are not useless and are certainly not stupid. In fact, you have far more wit and courage than you ever give yourself credit for. If you had not stepped forward and spoke your mind to the leader of the company, you would not be joining on this quest."
"But we're not part of the company," Maia pointed out. "I just said that to Thorin so that he wouldn't turn us down. I wasn't thinking! We have to come along, but how are we gonna keep up if we don't know how to take care of ourselves? As far as the dwarves are concerned, I might as well have given them permission to shun us!" Gandalf laughed a little at that, causing Maia to glare at him. "It's not funny!" she snapped. "I'm freaking out of my mind here and you're laughing?"
"Maia Dainson," Gandalf said, gently, "I will not say that you are wrong, that the situation may have been decided a little too hastily, but do not underestimate the hearts of dwarves, despite their stubborn nature. They have a deep love for the women and children of their race, there being so few left in the world now, and for you three being a mixture of both-" He looked at her with raised eyebrows, "-your differing race will not lessen the compassion in their hearts. Give it a day or two, and they will soon invite you three by their campfire. You have friends among the dwarves, Miss Maia, even when you or they don't realize it yet, but I have seen how some of them look at you and can tell that you, Kyle, and Lori won't be alone."
Maia thought of Fili. Thought of how he defended her in the kitchen, how he smiled at her, how kindly he spoke to her. And Kili, who was friendly to her and excited to have Maia and her siblings come along. Ori as well, who had asked to record their story while they came along. It seemed that all the young dwarves so far were the most supportive. Maybe it was because they knew a little of what it's like to be in the Dainsons' position?
Either way, Maia knew Gandalf was right. Perhaps she would consider them friends. Whatever it was, it was the start of something that would continue with given time. She took a deep breath and stood up. "Okay," she exhaled, and gave him a smile. "Guess I better wake Kyle and Lori."
Kyle was ready to kill.
This was the second time in a row that he had been woken up without warning, but this was even worse because it was freaking dawn! He grumbled gibberish under his breath as he slipped on his jeans and navy blue Captain America T-shirt (he was taking a break from the Shire clothes). Maia was doing the same, slipping on her jeans, gray Guns 'N' Roses T-shirt, and cowboy boots. Lori had on her leggings and red cowgirl boots, but now she wore was a green and yellow Baylor Bears T-shirt, kiddie-sized. Lori had wanted to keep wearing one of her dresses, but Maia told them that since they were going to be riding ponies, they had to dress up for riding, and dresses were not the best thing to wear for traveling long distances anyway.
Still, Maia had packed two of Lori little dresses that Bilbo gave her and even packed her own purple skirt, blouse, and jerkin vest, just in case. Kyle packed his trousers, coat, and button down shirt. He even packet the boots for traveling. Better safe than sorry.
Lori had taken out the sketchbook and out a page. It was her coloring picture she worked on, more like colorful scribbles and stick figures on top of what looked like The Hill of Bag End.
"Look, Sparky," Lori announced, holding up the picture for him to see. "It's Bag End, see?" She pointed at the four stick figures holding hands on top with the sun in the background. "That's me, that's Maia, that's Bilbo, and that's you!"
"That's great, L," Kyle mumbled, pushing back his bangs sleepily. "What's it for?"
"For Bilbo! It's supposed to be a 'Thank you' card for letting us stay with him. I hope he likes it!" Lori then left the bedroom and started down the hallway, but she ran smack into Gandalf.
"Oh, ho! Where are you off to, little one?"
Lori smiled up at the wizard, brown eyes twinkling. "To wake up Bilbo! I have to give him something!" She held up her coloring, proudly, showing him.
"It's a very fine picture, little Lori," complimented the wizard with a small smile. "There is no doubt that Master Baggins will love it...but I'm afraid that it would be better if you didn't wake him."
"But I..." Lori lowered her drawing, looking puzzled and crestfallen as Gandalf put an arm around her shoulders and led her in the opposite direction. The wizard bent down at her level and said softly, "I have a better idea. Why don't we leave the drawing on Bilbo's desk, right next to his maps near the front door. He reckon he always has his breakfast there."
"Kinda," Lori mumbled, but she nodded, though not looking entirely cheered. "Okay." She went to do as Gandalf said.
When watching all the dwarves head outside, and then the Dainson siblings following with their backpacks on, Gandalf hung back for a moment, taking a look around the hobbit's hole and nodded to himself. Then, out of sleeve, he took out the contract, unfolded it, and laid it out on the desk next to Lori's drawing.
"What about breakfast?" Lori asked, holding Maia and Kyle's hand as they walked outside. They were already walking down the path, passing hobbit holes and their gardens. The dwarves were grouped ahead of them, but when they heard the little girl's question, Kili shared a look with his brother before calling out in a teasing tone, "We already had it."
"No, you didn't," whined Lori, glaring at him. "We just left."
"It was a very quick breakfast," said Fili, smirking. "Gobbled it down so fast you'd hardly blink." Some of the dwarves were sniggering amongst themselves.
"Oh, okay! What about second breakfast?" asked Lori, not realizing this whole thing was a joke. When answered by more laughing, even Maia and Kyle smiled, but she frowned. "No, really, guys! I'm hungry!" she squeaked in protest.
Maia squeezed her hand assuredly. "We're eating at the Green Dragon's Inn," she told her little sister.
Lori brightened. "Really?"
"Jeez, Maia, way to spoil it!" Kyle said, sharing an exasperated look at Fili and Kili, but then asked seriously, "Are we really going there?"
"Yeah, Gandalf said so," Maia answered, shrugging. "He said that's where the ponies were tied up, so it makes sense to eat something before taking off."
"Do we have money? I mean, like, Shire money?"
"We don't need it, remember? Bar tender said it was on the house the next time we stopped by."
"You actually remember that?"
"I wasn't that drunk, Kyle! God!"
When they arrived at the Green Dragon's Inn, they counted sixteen ponies and one horse tied to the posts, each in different colors and breeds. Thorin announced that they all had one hour to eat and gather all the supplies, which had turned out to be stored in rented rooms before the dwarves arrived at Bag End separately. Lori gasped when she saw them and scampered up to one of the ponies, a shaggy, chestnut-colored one with a dark mane (actually, most of them were already shaggy and chestnut colored). Going up on her tiptoes, she reached up to pet its soft nuzzle. As if in response, it leaned further down and nudged the little girl, who caught herself before stumbling, giggled, and then hugged its head.
"You're so cute!" she cooed, before kissing its face. The ponies snorted and Lori smiled, leaning her ear against its soft nose, almost hearing him say Your hands are soft. "Thanks! I'll call you Quincy, and I'll ride you, 'cause you're the prettiest-I mean, handsomest! Sorry!" She looked when Maia joined her. "Look, Maia! We should ride this one! I like him!"
"Yeah, he's a beauty," agreed Maia, "but we don't know if he's already taken!" She turned and saw Fili next to her, patting another nearby pony. "Hey, Fili, is this one taken?"
"Take any," said Fili. "They are all meant for traveling and if we are all going to be sharing them for some time, the ponies might as well get used to every member of the company. That one's name is Firen," he added to Lori.
"How can you tell? They all look the same to me," said Maia.
"The white patches beneath his flanks. Don't worry. Give it some time and you will know. Have you ever ridden a horse?"
Maia snorted, while patting Firen. "Are you kidding? I was raised on horses. My family ran a horse farm a year back and my mom was a horse trainer." She cleared her throat, suddenly reminded of the past year. Fili noticed the change in her mood and frowned, so Maia added quickly, "We had to close down the business a year ago, sold the horses, cleaned up the pens and all. End of story." Mom got in a car accident, Dad disappeared, and grandparents were trying to raise us, so they sold the horses. End of story.
Fili could tell there was more to the story, but he didn't press. Kili then came up from behind him. "You coming?" he asked his brother.
"Aye," replied Fili.
Then Kili turned to Maia, suddenly smiling mischievously. "I have to ask: what was that you said about 'not being that drunk?'"
Lori giggled. Maia put her hands on her hips, raising her eyebrows. "Eavesdrop much?"
Fili gave her an apologetic smile that warmed her heart, his eyes saying, Told you so.
The birds were singing as the sun shined through the window of his bedroom. Bilbo stirred in his bed, sighing at the comfort and peace of the morning, admiring the lovely songs of the blue birds outside. Oh, Lori would always say that she could hear them speaking to her...
Lori. Bilbo eyes popped open with a shocking start. Kyle. Maia. Dwarves. Wizard. Oh, my! He sat up eruptively and still for a moment, observing his surroundings. By the brightness outside, it had to be late in the morning, around nine or ten. His fireplace had gone out...he had remembered leaning on the pole of his canopy, staring into the deep glow of the dancing flames, listening to the dwarves' song, miserable from his parting with the Dainsons' in the hallways while entranced by the beauty and meaning of the song...he remembered feeling a Tookish longing battling the doubts of his Baggins' side...then nothing else as he drifted off...
He had dreamed of the dwarves' kingdom. The Lonely Mountain. A story made on its own, he dreamed of gold, a throne, the dwarves dressed in armor and fancied braids...he dreamed of the steely eyed Thorin Oakenshield holding his sword and wearing a crown, high and mighty on the throne. Bilbo himself was wearing velvet silk, jewels, and held a sword as he knelt down before them, admiring the beauty and wonders of what should be one of the greatest kingdoms of Middle Earth...
Then the dream faded into the morning of the Shire, and Bilbo could not remember much of what he dreamed of. It must have been the song, he thought to himself. Only a fool would admit that the song of the Lonely Mountain was rubbish.
Are they still here? The hobbit tilted his head and leaned forward to listen. Besides the birds singing, there was no sound. Nothing. Bilbo leapt off his bed and left the room. He had realized that he had slept in his overalls and day shirt, but as he tiptoed down the hall, leaning his head around the archways, expecting the dwarves to be either sleeping or pillaging his kitchen again. Hesitating, he called out, "H-Hello?"
Nothing answered. Breath pacing, he zoomed around the corners of Bag End and found it completely empty, not to mention tidied up, as if nothing was ever touched. The pantry was still empty, though, and an empty barrel had been rolled back to its place. Bilbo sighed in relief and put his hands on his hips in satisfaction. The dwarves were gone.
The Dainsons, he remembered. Bilbo scurried to the Dainsons' guest bedroom. When he opened the door, he expected them to be oversleeping, like they did yesterday...the door swung open and he found the room empty, the canopy bed made and the fire gone out. Their backpacks were gone. Darling Maia, feisty Kyle, and sweet little Lori were gone.
The hobbit stood in the doorway, staring at the empty bed for a long moment. He listened to the empty quiet of the house. This was what he wanted, right? Suddenly, he felt a great sadness slowly build up inside him...but then battled to push it down as he walked into the sitting room and straightened up, smoothing himself out. He would have a cup of tea. He would go buy more food. He would bet back to his business, back to his life, earn back his neighbors' respect in a week's time, as if nothing had ever happened...Bilbo had been staring at his front door when these thoughts passed over his head.
Noticing at the corner of his eye on his desk, he turned to look. The contract lay on the table, open like an invitation with Thorin and Balin's signature...and a colorful child's drawing. Recognizing Lori's hand style, Bilbo picked it up and couldn't help a fond laugh as he observed the four stick figures holding hands on top of Bag End, the large sun in the background, and his green door rounded on the side of The Hill with flowers and smoke rings. In big, scribbly letters on top, it said Thank you, Bilbo Baggins.
Bilbo's eyes misted up and sniffed, feeling a hard lump in his throat. He thought about the way he said goodbye to the human younglings in the hallway: Lori trying not to cry while begging for him to come, Kyle shaking his hand while barely meeting his eyes, and Maia giving him a hug while whispering, "Just in case." Then Bilbo retreated to his bedroom without looking back, forcing himself not to cry and stared at the fireplace, listening to the dwarves' song, until he drifted asleep.
What a sorry excuse of a goodbye for such three fine young humans! Friends of halflings and almost true Shire members in Hobbiton, if not for their height and shoes.
Bilbo looked at Lori's picture. Then he looked at the contract. Then the flame in his chest that was his Tookish desire exploded. He looked up with a wide-eyed gasp.
"Bilbo Baggins, what in the bloody world are you doing?" he gasped to himself.
They had already left the Green Dragon Inn and Hobbiton an hour ago. It turned out that breakfast had lasted much longer-two hours longer-than was planned. Some of the hobbits who were getting ready for work had gotten the time to chat with Dainsons, even Drogo Baggins, who worked part-time at the Inn before he would head off the Buckland for his new job.
Kyle had introduced Drogo to Fili and Kili, before pointing out all the other names of the dwarves who were served eggs, bacon, sausages, muffins, pancakes, toast, coffee, water, and goat milk. Drogo was surprisingly at ease with these new outsiders, and all seven of them gathered (Ori had come over to join and wrote down some notes in his journal). While Lori was peeking into Ori's journal, Kyle enjoyed talking and joking loudly with Drogo and Kili, feeling like he was back at home with his friends from school (even though these two, a dwarf and a hobbit, were much older than junior high boys, though also shorter).
Fili was great, too, but Kyle noticed that the blond dwarf's attention was turned mostly to his big sister, Maia, the two of them hitting it off about something and laughing. Kyle frowned, seeing how close the two seemed, how close their hands were on the table, and how Fili seemed enjoy himself a little too much in Maia's company for Kyle's liking.
It's probably nothing, he told himself, forcing himself to look away before anyone noticed. It's not gonna happen. He's too old for her, anyway, and he's a dwarf…..and we're going home. S'not gonna happen.
Eventually, Thorin had to force everyone to finish up, ordering everyone to gather the supplies from the rented out rooms, and head outside to get the ponies strapped up. Kyle rolled his eyes when the dwarves obeyed without question, but he too got up. He said goodbye to Drogo, giving the hobbit a hug before heading outside.
Once the ponies were saddled, Maia helped since she was more of the horse expert than Kyle was. Strapping on all the supplies proved to be more difficult, but they mostly used three of the ponies, one of them carrying such a large load that Kyle could barely make out pans, a few water skins, a small barrel, blankets...it was a wonder how that pony was still standing.
Gandalf had a horse, of course. A chestnut colored mare. Leading his horse by the reins, the wizard met with Maia, Kyle, and Lori, who were trying to decide how each one was going to share a pony (since one of them had too much supplies for any more room). "I suggest one of you share a ride. If it comes to it, my horse is strong enough for one more. Maia, since you are clearly familiar with horse riding, you will choose a pony. Lori-"
"I wanna ride my own pony!" whined Lori. "I wanna ride Firen!"
"Lori, you can't ride a pony without help," Kyle said in annoyance.
"Neither can you!" Lori shot back. "At least I had lessons longer than you have!"
"Not true!" argued Kyle. "It's just been a few years, that's all!" When he was nine, Kyle had stopped wanting to take horse riding lessons. Maia continued, of course, but Kyle wanted to do other sports like football and baseball. "You barely started when you were, like, three. A baby!"
"I'm not a baby!" cried Lori, stopping her foot.
"You guys are both being babies!" scolded Maia, grabbing at them. "Stop! I have better idea! Lori, you'll ride with me. We'll both share Firen. Kyle-hey, wipe that stupid grin off your face, freak-show!" She lightly tapped his face, and he flinched back, protesting. "I'm not done! You'll ride a pony, but if you really do suck at it, you're gonna be the one riding with Gandalf."
"Aw, c'mon!" yelled Kyle.
"Nope, you asked for it. If Lori can't ride by herself, then neither will you. But if you can ride, I'm passing you Lori and then you guys can share. Got it?"
There was no choice after that. Lori was pouting when Maia lifted her on Firen, before hoisting herself behind the little girl, mindful of their backpacks. Gandalf went over and showed them an easier way of hanging the bags at the handle of the saddle. Kyle followed that example by hanging his own backpack, along with other supplies that took up some room on his pony.
"You alright, Kyle?" Kili called over, already on his own pony.
"Yeah, just peachy!" Kyle answered, while fumbling with his reins. He was a little rusty. "You think these ponies can hold us the whole way?"
Kili smiled. "Master Dainson, you happen to be looking at sixteen of the strongest ponies Ered Luin has to offer. They wouldn't be here if they weren't built for heavy loads. Besides, just because you're taller, doesn't mean you're heavier."
"Really?"
"Aye, I've learned dwarves have thicker and denser bones than Men. Balin says it's part of what give us twice the amount of strength, but makes it more difficult to climb or swim."
"Huh," Kyle observed all the dwarves short but clearly more muscular figures. They had larger hands and feet, wider chests, muscular arms and legs, some with bigger noses, heads, and ears, and clearly all had harder skulls (after witnessing Dwalin and Balin butt heads last night). He also recalled how Kili thumped him on the back, meaning for it to be a playful gesture, but it practically knocked the breath out of Kyle in a way that made him sure he was going to get a bruise later.
So yeah. It must make sense that dwarves were twice as strong as the average human, even when they were a little over four feet tall.
"Move out!" Thorin shouted out, already on his own pony and leading the company out of Hobbiton. Maia and Lori already ahead of him, Kyle took a deep breath and nudged his heels gently on the pony's flanks. "Please go easy on me," he told the pony, softly.
Surprisingly, when another hour went by, the pony just walked smoothly. Kyle hardly had to control him...or her. Kili at one point told him the pony was called Myrtle. It was as if the pony heard the boy's prayer and just took complete control.
"Thank you," he murmured.
The horse tossed her head with a snort in response, almost literally sounding like You're welcome. Kyle blinked and rubbed his ears. Weird, he thought. He must be losing his mind if he started to believe his pony could actually understand him.
He must have been lost in his own thoughts when the dwarves started talking about making a bet. "Wait, what's the bet?" he called out, riding closer to the dwarves.
"I'll bet one of my pouches that the hobbit won't turn up," Nori claimed. Others like Gloin, Dwalin, Bifur, Dori, Bofur, and-yes, even Ori- agreed. Others who did not care much for such betting like Balin, Bombur, and Thorin were left out of the fun, but from the looks on their faces, Kyle could already tell that they would have bet the same thing. It made furious that the dwarves think so little of Bilbo, but Kyle was also mad at Bilbo for not coming along, even if the hobbit had less of a chance in the wilderness than he did. Maybe he was more sad than mad, really.
"Well, I say the hobbit will show up," Kili said loudly and confidently. "I have faith."
Yep, Kyle definitely liked Kili. The dark haired young dwarf had his moments.
"Faith in a pint-sized hobbit with no real motivation?" Nori asked skeptically.
"Why not? He doesn't look half bad. Besides, I got plenty of money with me to bet with," boasted Kili, smiling evilly at Nori. "Care to make yourself rich?"
"Careful, nadadith," Fili warned, but teasingly. "That's both of our money you've got there, and you're playing a dangerous game. If Thorin decided to smack one of us white, it's not going to be me."
"Well, if I'm in on the bet, Fee, then you are as well," Kili claimed, looking determined. "No turning back now!"
Nadadith?* Kyle wondered if that was a foreign word. He heard Bifur speak some kind of gibberish-though it sounded too fancy and complicated to be gibberish-but he wondered what this word meant. Was it a pet name? And why would Fili say Thorin would smack either one of them? Even a leader couldn't-
Then it struck him like a lightning bolt and Kyle wanted to smack his forehead for being an idiot.
Thorin was their father. It all made sense. He recalled how the only time he had seen Thorin smile, even for a brief moment, and that had been for Fili and Kili. Fili even looked like him, having the same deep blue eyes (though nowhere near as cold and hard), the same long nose, the same hairstyle...Kili's hair was nearly as dark as Thorin's, was practically the same height, also had a long nose, and whenever Kili frowned, it was just about as dark as Thorin's. It all made perfect sense! The only thing that Kyle found strange was that Fili and Kili called him by his first name.
So? Lots of other people call their parents by their first names sometimes. Wait, no! That's mostly when they're in a bad relationship. He also recalled how Fili had composed all his cheerful behavior when Thorin arrived at Bag End, and Kili had even quieted a little. Thorin was, after all, keeping his distance at the front of the company. From his sons. Are they fighting?
"Me, too!" Kyle announced. The dwarves looked at him in surprise. "I bet Bilbo will catch up with us before we away too far!"
"You've got nothing to bet, lad!" Bofur said. "We know you don't have money!"
"Oh, really?" Kyle said slowly, raising his eyebrows. He then unzipped his backpack, dug into the pockets, until pulling out his DS gameboy.
He held it out for them to see; their eyes narrowed in confusion as the rectangular device in the boy's hand. Bifur grunted and pointed at it, Bofur speaking for him with unhidden curiosity, "Aye, what is that? Some sort of case?"
"It's a DS gameboy," said Kyle. He opened to show them the double screens and controls, also the tiny sensor stick that came with it. He turned it on and it made the beeping sounds of The Legend of Spyro, the game he was currently playing. Their eyes widened and Kyle smirked. "This is further proof of where I come from. It's an advanced gadget used for playing HD games with a sensor screen. I'd tell you more about it..." He shut the gameboy and shrugged carelessly while dropping it back in his sack, "but, of course, that wouldn't be the point of the bet. So, if Bilbo doesn't catch up, you get the gameboy and I'll show you how this toy works."
Bifur made a questioning sound, while Bofur's mouth dropped. "That's a toy?"
"Yup! And I think somebody told me you guys were toymakers," Kyle pressed on. "It's also worth a lot of money, back in my world. I'll even tell you more about it...but if I win, same for everyone else. You pay me and I keep my DS."
The two cousins looked excited and mad with curiosity, so Bofur nodded with a grin. "Alright, lad, you're on! But I guarantee ya, as nice as the hobbit was, it's highly unlikely he'll be joining."
Don't I know it, Kyle thought miserably. He just hoped he was right, but if he was wrong, Bilbo Baggins was probably sitting down, having tea, and trying to forget the whole thing.
Bilbo had never run so fast in his life. He had packed so quickly some belongings in his knapsack like a rolled up blanket, some bread and water, and...oh, he didn't remember! He just grabbed it and the contract, but not before putting Lori's drawing on the mantlepiece, beneath the pictures of his mother and father. It should be fine.
The hobbit leapt over hens, wagons, and fences, not noticing how everyone in Hobbiton was staring after a sprinting Mr. Baggins of Bag End with sleepy eyes and messy curls, having thrown on his red coat and green vest, running like wolves were snapping at his heels.
I can make it! I can still make it! Bilbo was panting as he ran down the swerving path. He was already sweating and his heart was crashing. He hasn't run like this in years. Not even when he was late for scheduled meetings like tea, parties, and business. He hasn't run like this since before he came of age. And goodness, how out of shape he felt!
"Oi! Mr. Bilbo!" Mr. Worrywort called from his garden. "Where you off to?"
"Can't stop!" Bilbo yelled, as he ran past, the contract flying in the wind like a flag. "I'm already late!"
"Late for what?" shouted Worrywort, confused.
Bilbo kept running, not pausing to turn back toward the beautiful green hills of Hobbiton, his home and sanctuary. Still, forgetting all of his worries at this moment (other than being late), a Tookish smile crept up his face as he ran. Even out of breath, his heart soared.
"I'M GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!"
Lori was still slouching, feeling Maia's arms around her as her sister drove their pony. Lori had wanted to ride the pony by herself. She was a big girl, practically grown.
But most of all, she was even more sad because she thought of Bilbo and how he said goodbye. She felt like crying. If they did manage to go home, they would probably never see him again. She had hoped that he would come along just to hang out with a little longer, maybe have some more fun with them. He did promise to help them find a way home.
He was her friend. One of the bestest in the world, she thought. She especially didn't like it when hearing most of the other dwarves grumbling about Gandalf's burglar choice and how "using the hobbit" would have given them more dead weight. She wondered if the dwarves that of her and Kyle and Maia as dead weight, too, and the thought made her mad.
It was going to be a long trip.
"Wait!" a familiar voice shouted behind them. "WAIT!"
Everyone halted all at once. Lori whipped around, knowing the voice at once, and then squealed loudly with happiness saw the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, panting after them. Around his shoulders was a knapsack and in his hand was the contract.
"Wait...wait..." Bilbo was panting, all sweaty and wiped out, as he reached out a hand for them all to stop. "I'm here...I'm here..."
"BILBO!" Lori sang, bouncing in the saddle with mad excitement. She then leapt off the pony, startling Maia, and then scampered toward the hobbit. "BilboBilboBilboBILBO!" She crashed into him and threw her arms around his chest, making him stumble back a little. His heart was really pounding against her head. With a gasp for air, Bilbo let out a laugh and hugged Lori back, patting her head as he tried to catch his breath.
Kyle behind her laughed aloud, while somewhere Dwalin exclaimed, "Well, I'll be damned!" It almost sounded like he was impressed, but mostly disgruntled after realizing he lost the bet.
Finally, with Lori still clutching him, Bilbo managed to reach Balin. "I signed it!" he claimed, proudly holding up the contract.
After handing it to Balin, the elderly dwarf gave Bilbo a thoughtful glance, before pulling out his eyeglass and peering at the contents. Bilbo looked up and saw Gandalf smiling at him, and Thorin Oakenshield with a slightly surprised expression. His lips twitched up a little, showing the slightest sign that he was impressed, but it was enough to make Bilbo's heart lift with hope.
"Everything appears to be in order," confirmed Balin, folding up the contract. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield." Balin then winked at Bilbo and smiled. Bilbo looked absolutely delighted at the news and rubbed Lori's curls as she kept hugging him.
Thorin couldn't help the small smile he tried to hold back at the scene, so he looked ahead and gave an order, "Give him a pony!"
Bilbo's excitement was replaced with a slight panic. "Oh, no, no, no! That's won't be necessary!" he tried saying as the dwarves continued walking. "I'm sure I can keep up on foot! I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know!" Behind him, Fili and Kili shared a look, nodded, and then walked up on either side of the hobbit with readied hands. "I even got as far as Frog Morton once...WHAH!"
Bilbo was swinging up into the air, and Kili called out, "Kyle! Hurry up and get Mr. Boggins!"
"It's Baggins!" shrieked the hobbit, kicking his feet in midair.
Kyle's laughter died. "Why me?" he protested, after realizing what they wanted him for. "Why not Maia?"
"Kyle!" the brothers cried.
"Okay, okay!" Kyle urged his pony forward hastily and the dwarf brother propped their new burglar on the saddle in front of the boy.
"S'up?" Kyle said awkwardly, as Bilbo struggled to ready himself and even took up the reins. He held them up really stiffly, having absolutely no idea what to do. When the pony tossed her head, he flinched back and Kyle laughed. Behind them, Maia laughed. Kyle and Bilbo sharing a pony looked comical, both of their faces turning pink.
Lori was still on the ground, trying to catch up when strong gloved hands scooped under her shoulders. "Up, you get!" Fili said cheerfully, as he scooped her up and she gave a happy "Weeee!" before being placed in front of him. "How about you ride with me for now?"
"Okay!" she said, looking up with twinkling eyes before patting his pony. The pony responded with a snort to her touch.
Kili noticed this. "You, Maia, and Kyle seem to have a way with the ponies," he complimented. "They like you already. What's the secret?"
"You ask them nicely," answered Lori, still petting the pony absentmindedly. "Daddy says it runs in the family. He says we're horse whisperers."
"Horse whisperers?" Kili repeated, looking puzzled.
"Uh-huh," Lori nodded. "Something like that. Maia and Kyle think its silly, but I believe it, and I think it's cool." After that, she cooed at the pony.
Fili and Kili shared a look, confused. Fili shrugged, but both of them knew that however strange Lori's notions were, they were also not impossible.
Whew, that was fun! Stopping there for now! Holy crow! I honestly did not expect it to be this long. It was supposed to be a short chapter, no joke! Short chapters are hard to make in my world. I hope you enjoyed it anyway. I just started watching "Sleepy Hollow." It was only the pilot, but it looked pretty awesome!
It was fun writing this. I needed to make sure the Dainsons said goodbye to some friends like Drogo before they left, because you gotta review the possibilities. How did you like Maia's dream? You got a small glimpse of the movie's prologue, after all. Guess who the dwarf maiden was;)?
I have also just watched "Hook," which inspired me to have Lori color a picture for Bilbo, part of motivating his desire to go with the Dainsons. Gandalf saw to that (he put next to the contract for a reason). How did you also like Kyle and Lori's "horse whispering?" Curious?
Also, just a heads up, I want to be clear on how old Thorin was when Smaug attacked Erebor. I wanted to make him fifty years old instead of twenty-five, because fifty is between mid or late teens to a dwarf while twenty-five is around ten or eleven, and in the movie, Thorin was definitely too old to be ten or eleven, right? Guess you'll be asking questions about the Battle of Moria/Azanulbizar. Don't worry. Later on will explain. So yeah.
Review soon!:)