"No!" I sat up from my bedroll screaming, looking around the cave I took a deep breath and sighed, "only a dream..." I whispered to myself, though I could not remember the dream. My eyes closed for a few moments as I relaxed my heart rate, I could never remember my dreams, not that I would want to by the feel of my heart and the sweat coming from my forehead. I looked to my fire pit and saw the remaining embers dying out slowly. I didn't want to sleep again... I made the decision to pack my bags and to head to the closest town to sleep in an actual bed. I hadn't done that in a very long time.
The cave I had sheltered in was big enough to hide me from the downpour last night, I had managed to get a warm fire going and had my meal of rabbit for dinner. I was a fine hunter, being able to fish, lay traps and cook the food was all too easy for me now after many years of practice. I travelled with a few bags, holding a change of clothes and the tools to make new arrows if needed. I had learnt much over the years of travelling this world. But I did not remember anything before I turned eleven. I had no memories of my childhood... Only two bracelets and a necklace that I never removed; they were my only clues to my past. The bracelets held two different gems, a green and brown gem on my left, and the one on my right were many shades of blue, while my necklace had a white and red gemstone inside. They were called the `Jewels from Aulton` according to Gandalf and Elrond.
I know how to speak Elvish, and I knew a bit of the dwarf's language. I had been taught a lot when I grew up in Rivendell with Elrond, he treated me like a daughter, until I ran away... I wanted to find out who I was as Elrond wouldn't tell me anything, said I had to wait until I was older and more experienced with the world.
As I finished packing my back I heard footsteps behind me, I glanced to my bow which wasn't far from my position.
"I would not reach for your bow else you could hit an old friend." A deep male voice spoke behind me, I looked back to see the figure of a man wearing a pointy hat with a staff,
"Gandalf?" I questioned, I heard the chuckle of the old man, a smile crept on my face as I walked over to him and hugged the tall wizard,
"Warm welcome," Gandalf sounded surprised,
"I haven't seen a friendly face for a while and it's such a relief." I spoke, my voice was soft and had grown in the years, though I had stopped ageing since I turned 21. Gandalf smiled at me gently, "What can I do for you?" I asked as I went back to grab my bag and pick up my bow and quiver.
"I need your help." Gandalf spoke, I stopped and looked at him, confusion clearly showing on my face,
"My help? A grand wizard wants my help?" I asked in disbelief, Gandalf looked at me more seriously seconds after,
"I am going on an adventure, and I believe that this adventure would help you also." Gandalf spoke, I frowned at him as I walked forward out of the dark cave, I had sheltered in.
"What do you mean by help me?" I asked,
"You cannot remember anything before turning eleven, last thing you do remember is waking up in Rivendell where you grew up until you were twenty-one and then you ran away. And the last ninety-four years you have been exploring these lands and trying to find out who you are with no luck." Gandalf spoke, I scanned his facial features to see if there was any tell, any sign of deception. Gandalf knew my past and had met me a few times when I lived in Rivendell. I looked off into the distance and rolled my tongue around my mouth while I considered is proposal.
"Fine." I looked up at him, "Where are we going?" I asked, Gandalf smiled at me as he placed both of his hands on the top of his staff,
"Head to the Shire not far from here later tonight, find a green door with a rune on. That is where we shall meet. There is someone I need to meet now." Gandalf spoke as I nodded, I knew where the shire was as I had walked through there once or twice in my travels. Not many of the hobbits there paid any notice to me though... I looked like a tall dwarf. Even though I was human I was generally very short.
Later that night I headed to the shire, I had bathed in a nearby lake and prepared myself for what was to come. I walked through the Shire and looked around the small homes, though none that I could see had a rune on them. Until I came by one house which sounded like there was a party going on inside. I walked up the small stairs and reached the door, glancing down on the green paint I saw a rune marking,
"Here we go..." I whispered, I knocked on the door and heard the sounds immediately stop inside, but then I heard a loud voice yelling,
"Gandalf, I am not having any more dwarves in-" The door opened, and I saw a hobbit standing there and Gandalf leaned down and smiled at me,
"You are slightly late my lady." Gandalf spoke,
"I do apologise. My name is Raine, may I come in?" I looked towards the hobbit; he seemed shocked that I was a human... And that I was female. The hobbit quickly straightened himself up and nodded,
"You are very welcome, my name is Bilbo." Bilbo spoke, I smiled at him gently and walked through the door to see loads of dwarves running through the hobbits house and around the room. I looked to Gandalf, and he looked at me and smiled as he shrugged, what has he gotten me into?
I walked through the hall towards the dwarves as they were carrying loads of food through to the dining room, Gandalf walked by and started helping them set up the table. I looked at all the male dwarves and then one of them stopped by me, a small dwarf holding a plate with some food on it, he offered the plate up to me as I smiled,
"Gandalf asked me to get some food ready for you, for when you arrived. My name is Ori." Ori spoke, he seemed like a sweet dwarf as I looked at Gandalf and he raised his tiny glass of wine to me.
"Thank you, Ori. My name is Raine," I replied, Ori nodded and stepped back and then seconds later was back in the fray with the other dwarves, my plate had a mix of food on there, but all foods I liked, mostly fruits and veg with some cheese. I managed to move inside the dining hall and sit near the door as the dwarves all sat down as well and started eating.
I moved back through with my plate and sat at the other side on the floor, I looked up at the hobbit as he stood in the middle of the room not knowing what to do.
"Were you not in on this?" I asked, Bilbo looked at me as I eaten some of my food.
"No, I had no intentions of letting dwarves raid my house tonight." Bilbo spoke furiously, I smirked,
"Gandalf for you, has good intentions but has a funny way of showing it." I spoke as I finished my food.
"And what about you?" Bilbo asked,
"Gandalf found me this morning, I`m assuming before he spoke to you because he said to me it was tonight." I stood up from the ground and looked at Bilbo, "I feel for you though, I know what dwarves can be like sometimes..." I stood next to him and looked at them as they all started burping. As I looked to Bilbo he had turned around and looked inside his pantry to see that every little scrap of food had been taken.
Not long after Bilbo chased after some dwarves heading into his kitchen as I was approached by a half bald dwarf and an older looking one.
"What are you doing here lass?" The younger one asked,
"Gandalf requested me to be here." I spoke as he seemed to disapprove of my being here. "Is there a problem?" I glared at him,
"No, no problem lass, we just wanted to see why you were here. You see this is not going to be an easy adventure." The older one spoke,
"Well I`m not so easily killed or beaten in battle. Do not underestimate anyone or anything." I spoke harshly, anyone who doubted my abilities were immediately met with aggression from myself. I hated being seen as weak, I hated being called weak. I am a strong woman who can fight her own battles. I have been alone the last ninety-four years and I'm still alive.
"And my name is Raine." I spoke,
"I am Balin, and this is my brother Dwalin." Balin spoke, Dwalin huffed and walked back inside the dining room, "don't mind my brother, we are all just a little curious as to why Gandalf has asked a young lass such as yourself to come along, especially a human." Balin explained, I looked towards Gandalf as Bilbo was complaining to him about the dwarves,
"You and me both." I admitted and looked over Balin`s face as he frowned slightly. Though moments later he went to sit back down at the dining table.
"I don't want to get used to them. The state of my kitchen! There's mud trod into the carpet, they've pi-pillaged the pantry. I'm not even going to tell you what they've done in the bathroom; they've all but destroyed the plumbing. I don't understand what they're doing in my house!" Bilbo came charging through and stood near me as Gandalf looked at Bilbo and then towards me for a moment. Though the young dwarf that gave me the food early walked by and stood beside Bilbo for a second.
"Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, but what should I do with my plate?" Ori asked politely, I smiled a little bit at the young dwarf, until another dwarf walked by and stood beside Ori,
"Here you go, Ori, give it to me." The dwarf spoke he took the plate from Ori and threw it to another dwarf which then disappeared through the door, and by the fact that I could not hear a smash it was caught by another dwarf. My jaw dropped slightly as I started seeing other plates, bowls and utensils getting thrown about the room and into the kitchen, Gandalf kept having to duck to avoid being hit by anything.
"Excuse me, that's my mother's West Farthing crockery, it's over a hundred years old!" Bilbo protested as I glanced into the dining room to hear some of the dwarves stomping their feet and banging the knives and forks together, I could hear a tune starting as Bilbo walked through, "And can-can you not do that? You'll blunt them!" Bilbo complained,
"Ooh, d'hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives." Another dwarf with a funny looking hat on spoke, I looked through the hall as one of the younger dwarves started to sing.
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks,
Smash the bottles and burn the corks,
Chip the glasses and crack the plates,
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
Three of the dwarves had grabbed some musical instruments and started to play music as they all sang and threw everything into the kitchen, I couldn't help but smile as I enjoyed the happy tune, I even started to tap my foot gently as I leaned against the door frame.
"Cut the cloth and tread on the fat,
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat,
Pour the milk on the pantry floor,
Splash the wine on every door"
As they sang, I moved through the crowd and into the kitchen to see what was going on, they were cleaning everything up for Bilbo, which I thought was a kind gesture.
"Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl,
Pound them up with a thumping pole,
When you've finished, if any are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll,
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
I smiled as Bilbo came in and saw all the plates stacked and cleaned as Gandalf and the dwarves started laughing at his face. I relaxed a bit as all seemed well.
Though some knocks on the door made everyone stop and look around,
"He's here..." Gandalf spoke, my eyes narrowed slightly, one more dwarf? How am I going to remember everyone's name? Gandalf moved to open the door for the last member of the group, I hid behind some of the other dwarves as I heard a voice speak as Gandalf opened the door,
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door.". The voice belonged to yet another dwarf that walked in, he had black hair and was very handsome for a dwarf, I stepped back as Bilbo moved past me
"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!" Bilbo moved through and stood between the new dwarf and Gandalf.
"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf spoke and had a rather guilty look on his face, Thorin Oakenshield... I heard that name a long time ago from another dwarf, but I cannot remember the story they told me about him.
"So, this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin looked over Bilbo with a mocking tone, I did not like his tone of voice towards Bilbo.
"Pardon me?" Bilbo questioned,
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin walked around Bilbo,
"Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo's reply seemed sarcastic if anything, I chuckled, if we were going to be running into danger, Bilbo would not be fit for this journey... What was Gandalf thinking?
"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thorin spoke as the dwarves all laughed, I moved away and into the dining hall, the other dwarves moved in and they had kept some food out for Thorin, he sat at the head of the table next to Gandalf as I stood behind Gandalf and listened to them talk. Hopefully Thorin will shed some light on the situation as he was the leader.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin spoke to Thorin,
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin answered as he ate, all the dwarves seemed pleased by his answered as they all murmured to each other.
"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked,
"They will not come." Thorin answered, the dwarves again murmured to each other but this time with disappointment of their kin. "They say this quest is ours, and ours alone." Thorin explained as the dwarves muttered more to their dismay.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo piped up in curiosity, Gandalf seemed pleased at this and grabbed something from his pocket,
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf spoke, I moved around to Gandalf's left and peered over his shoulder as Bilbo brought a candle around and stood between Gandalf and Thorin. Though at that moment, Thorin saw me and our eyes locked, I saw his narrow for a second calculating and thinking, wondering who I was and why I was here. But I didn't let his cold gaze worry me, we can talk later.
"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." Gandalf spoke and pointed to the map.
"Lonely Mountain." Bilbo read as he looked over it curiously.
"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time." A red head dwarf spoke up,
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." another grey haired dwarf chimed in, I frowned in confusion and looked down at the map to see a dragon drawn above the mountain, maybe this is the 'beast' they speak of...
"Uh, What beast?" Bilbo asked,
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals-" the dwarf with the funny hat started talking,
"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo interrupted when it was clear enough. I stood up straight and looked at Gandalf at that moment, I was afraid of wildfires... I had this fear since I was young. I had no idea why though.
"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie." Ori stood up and yelled over the table, all the dwarves started jeering and yelling at each other, I just look at the map, not realising that Thorin was still staring at me, probably sensing my fear. I block out the voices of the dwarves continued talking. I moved back and stood in the door frame behind Gandalf out of everyone's view.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest." Balin spoke, some of the dwarves objected to his words,
"What did he say?" the grey-haired dwarf spoke,
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" the young blonde haired one cheered,
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." His black-haired brother cheered.
"Oh, well, now, uh, I-I-I wouldn't say that I- -" Gandalf started and stopped because he had never killed a dragon, not that I know of anyway. I moved back into the kitchen and leaned against the wall, why did Gandalf drag me here? I cannot fight a dragon; I am a human. I know I am strong, but I use a bow and arrow, I don't have the power to defeat a dragon.
"How many, then?" another dwarf yelled,
"Uh, what?" Gandalf spoke,
"Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!" The same dwarf spoke,
"Hm." Gandalf embarrassedly starts coughing on his pipe smoke; the dwarves jump to their feet, arguing about the number of dragons Gandalf has killed. Thorin jumps up in anger and bellows,
"Shazara! If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours 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? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!" Thorin rallied all the dwarves, they truly believe they could fight a dragon, if it was still alive...
"You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain." Balin called out,
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf spoke, he revealed a key that I could just about see from where I was standing through the doorway.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked,
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now." Gandalf explained and then gently handed the key to Thorin who looked over it, I could see wonder and hope in his eyes.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." The young dwarf spoke, Gandalf moved and pointed to the map,
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf explained,
"There's another way in!" another dwarf cheered,
"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not 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." Gandalf explained as he shifted in his chair,
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori spoke,
"Hm, A good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine." Bilbo agreed, I smacked my hand on my forehead, therefore Gandalf brought them all to Bilbo's house...
"And are you?" An older dwarf spoke,
"Am I what?" Bilbo asked,
"He said he's an expert! Hey hey!" The older dwarf cheered, and many dwarves started laughing,
"M-Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life." Bilbo protested and stood back
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin agreed, Bilbo instantly jumped at the opportunity to nod and agree,
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin added, Bilbo again nodded and pointed at Dwalin for making a good point, all of the other dwarves start complaining and yelling at one another.
Gandalf slowly stood up and a dark shadow filled the room as he bellowed
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is." Gandalf's voice echoed loudly through the hobbits home and probably even woke some of the neighbours. But as the dwarves settle Gandalf sat back down and continued, "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fifteenth 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. You must trust me on this." Gandalf looked to Thorin, though as Thorin looked to Gandalf he glanced at me through the doorway.
"Very well. We will do it your way." Thorin agreed,
"No, no, no." Bilbo was having none of it, I couldn't wait for them to pick on me next... This was going to be fun.
"Give him the contract." Thorin stood up,
"Please." Bilbo begged,
"Alright, we're off!" the dwarf with the large hat cheered, as Balin stood and handed Bilbo the contact, it was rather large and folded up many times.
"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth." Balin explained as Bilbo looked at him in shock,
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo spoke as he walked into the hall.
I could hear Bilbo reading the contract out loud as I turned left and moved into the hall to look at him reading the paperwork,
"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 thereof including but not limited to lacerations ... evisceration … incineration?" Bilbo read aloud and looked back into the dining hall.
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." The dwarf said cheerfully, Bilbo was looking a bit pale suddenly,
"Huh." Bilbo sighed,
"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked as they moved to the doorway, Bilbo leaned forward and tried to breath properly, he wasn't looking well at all.
"Uh, yeah...Feel a bit faint." Bilbo replied,
"Think furnace with wings." The other dwarf wasn't helping.
"Air, I-I-I need air." Bilbo closed his eyes for a moment,
"Flash of light, searing pain, then Poof! you're nothing more than a pile of ash." I walked forward as I stared at the dwarf in disbelief.
"Hmmm. Nope." Bilbo spoke as he stood up straight and went to fall to the ground, I ran forward quicker than the dwarves were expecting and caught Bilbo,
"Ah, very helpful, Bofur." Gandalf spoke, the dwarves looked at me holding Bilbo,
"You're a fool." I looked towards Bofur. Thorin looked at me as I managed to get Bilbo in my arms and carry him through the halls with ease to another room with a fire.
Though I could hear Thorin talking to Gandalf,
"Who is that woman?" Thorin snapped as I could hear two pairs of footsteps walking towards where I set Bilbo down,
"She is here because I asked her to be here. I believe she will be of some help to this journey." Gandalf spoke, I pulled a blanket over Bilbo as he rested in the chair. Hopefully he will be fine when he wakes up
"I will not babysit a young human woman." Thorin spoke, I walked through to the hall and stood in front of Gandalf and Thorin,
"Then don't. I do not need looking after. I'm perfectly capable of looking after myself." I snapped, "I've lived in the woods most of my life." I glared at Thorin, and he glared at me, I was a little bit taller than him, by half a foot.
"And I use a bow if you must know." I snapped, the other dwarves had walked into the hall to see what was going on, though I had started slowly stepping towards Thorin, "and just so you learn a little bit about manners, you should never judge anyone until you get to know them. It's rude and ignorant." I was inches from Thorin's face, I don't care if he is the leader of this group. I am not going to be treated any different. I wasn't backing down either as Thorin was just looking back at me with no change in his facial expression.
Gandalf moved himself between me and Thorin and smiled,
"My lady, if you could be so kind and help me with Bilbo." Gandalf spoke, I looked up at him and my expression softened straight away,
"Sure, I'll go make him some tea." My eyes looked towards Thorin, and my expression was hard once more. I walked by the leader and our shoulders collided. I did not like that dwarf one bit.
As I went to get Bilbo a drink, a few of the other dwarves came in and introduced themselves to me which I thought was nice of them. Probably told by Balin as he kept bringing them in to see me. This night was going to be very long. I finished the tea and brought it in just as Bilbo woke up. I left Gandalf and Bilbo together to talk as Ori walked over to me as I sat down in the dining room.
"Why are you coming with us miss? This will be dangerous for a young woman like you." Ori spoke, I could see Thorin and Balin in the hallway as I looked up at Ori and smiled,
"Gandalf told me I will be able to recover my past if I came on this adventure. This is not just a journey to help you reclaim your home, but it's a journey for me to finally find out who I am." I explained, Ori frowned at me, he seemed confused,
"Don't you remember who you are?" Ori asked,
"No. I have no memory of home, or family. I only know that I am alive and that I have to find out who I am." I spoke, "So I guess I'm as lost as you dwarves are." I chuckled, I played with by right bracelet as I sighed, "but at least you all have a family." I added and looked back up at Ori, I saw Thorin looking at me as Balin started taking to him.
Ori left me alone after that and went to the other dwarves. Though I soon heard a calming song through the halls. It wasn't happy, it was sad, and longing for home.
"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."