"They want me to become their burglar and steal from a dragon," said Bilbo. "Well, Gandalf does," he amended.
THEY WANT YOU TO DO WHAT?" Bellowed Megan. What the fuck, are they for real? She knew about dragons from books that she and Bilbo had read together, but the thought of Bilbo having to face one was both terrifying and infuriating.
"You want him to face a dragon?" Hamfast asked, voice filled with absolute terror.
"Yes," said Gandalf in a calm tone that made Megan want to punch him. "Hobbits are unknown to dragons which will give us an advantage."
"Bless me, a dragon," whispered Hamfast. "I don't want any part of this, begging your pardon Master Bilbo."
"I do not fault your feelings on the matter," said Bilbo. "I need to sit quietly with a cup of tea. If you will excuse me, you can go back home now Master Hamfast, everything is well here."
"Are you sure?" asked Hamfast. "I don't want you mixing up with these foreigners and landing in trouble that is too big for you."
"What do you mean by mixed up with these foreigners," growled one of the dwarves.
"N-nothing," said Hamfast. "I just don't want Mr. Bilbo getting into no trouble on this mad adventure. It ain't natural, if you get my meaning." Some of the dwarves were muttering angrily to one another at the hobbit's blustering words.
"Master Hamfast, everything is fine," said Bilbo. "I thank you for your concern."
"If you are sure," said Hamfast. "I don't want you getting into no trouble. Please think this through if you follow me."
"I shall do so," said Bilbo. "Give my best to your family."
"I will," said Hamfast. "Good night all," he added, closing the door behind him.
Hamfast walked home deep in thought. Dwarves, here in the Shire. What will come of this, and they want Bilbo to go up to a dragon and steal something important. Still from a dragon. That dratted wizard has his hand in this, he said to himself.
Well, Well, Well, I do hope that trouble won't come from this, but I am certain it shall. Adventures are troublesome after all, he hoped that Bilbo wouldn't be caught in this mad venture, but if he was, he hoped that Bilbo would keep his head.
He sighed in relief as he reached his hobbit hole. Dwarves and dragons, what will come next? He thought, opening the door and entering the hole.
Megan went with Bilbo into his study and sat down beside him.
"I can't go on this mad adventure," he whispered. "I can't just leave Bag End out of the blue. He has the wrong hobbit."
"Why does Gandalf want you to go on this suicide mission, and why are they going after a dragon?"
"The dwarves lost everything to that beast, he is sitting in their mountain, and Master Thorin wishes to reclaim his home," Bilbo answered. "Gandalf believes there is more to me than meets the eye."
"I understand Thorin wishing to reclaim his home, and I agree with Gandalf about you having more in you than you think, but why do you need to go against a dragon to prove it? Doesn't he give a damn about you at all!" She was shouting once more. She sighed, forcing to calm herself and think this through.
"What is it that you want to do Bilbo?"
"I know not," the hobbit replied. "There is a part of me that is interested in going on the quest, but I am not a burglar or whatever Gandalf wishes of me to become. I am but a simple hobbits whom loves his books and garden. I deem he is asking the impossible of me. I need to sit quietly and think for a moment." Megan was about to speak but Gandalf interrupted her.
"You have been sitting quietly for far too long," he said. Here comes the lecture, Megan thought. "I remember a young Hobbit who wanted to find out what was beyond the Shire. You have changed Bilbo, and not for the better it seems." Gandalf sounded disappointed. Megan scoffed. People change as they grow up old man, she said to herself. She remembered her Mother giving her advice on going to college when she was undecided.
"Do you want to know what I wanted to be when I was growing up?" she had asked.
"No, what?" asked Megan.
"I wanted to travel the world and teach girls who were not allowed to have an education. I had an adventurous spirit, but I had to look at the practicalities of my situation. I could not afford to go to college, and I had to take care of my family. I had to set aside my dream to find whatever job I could to help my family survive, and I have been working ever sense with the same goal." Megan shook her head.
Bilbo probably secretly wanted to go on an adventure, but like her Mother, he was trying to look after his home as Master of the hill.
"The world is not in your books and maps," Gandalf continued. "It is out there, waiting for you to discover it."
"I am the Master of Bag End," Bilbo said. "I have responsibilities to my home. I am sorry Gandalf but I am not the hobbit you are looking for." Megan got to her feet.
"Where are you going?" Bilbo asked her.
"To do some investigative journalism," she replied. She headed towards the parlor where the dwarves were gathered. They fell silent as she entered and sat down in her favorite arm chair.
"Why pray tell, did you invite a hobbit to pry in our business?" asked one of the dwarves.
"Before I answer that, I would like at ask who I am talkin wit," said Began. "I am blind, so I need your name so I can match it with the voice that I hear."
"Gloin, son of Groin," the dwarf grunted.
"Well, Gloin son of Groin, I was simply protecting Bag End who I though was under attack. Where I come from, breaking and entering a house is usually followed by robbery, or worse shit."
"So human," Gloin growled, "you accuse my king and his company of breaking in?" there were mutters of agreement from the dwarves.
"Hey motha fuckah, my name is Megan, not human," Megan snarled. It brought her Mother's stories close to home of being called Girl back in Georgia where she grew up. "I am not accusing you of anything, it is plain fact that you all broke in this house without Bilbo's knowin of it. I don't care who you are, king or not, I am going to do what I have to so I can defend this home and Bilbo. You are damn lucky you ain't where I am from, you would have gotten yo asses killed."
"It is like a human to tell us where we should or should not go," growled Gloin. What was this dude's beef with humans? Megan thought.
"That is quite enough," said an elder sounding dwarf. "If Miss Megan felt threatened, then she had the right to call in what protection she deemed necessary, though a hobbit with a club is no use against dwarves with weapons."
"The hobbit may have told his family about our quest, and it may now be spread throughout this land as we are speaking," said the dwarf called Dwalin.
"Hamfast ain't going to tell nobody about your quest," said Megan. "He is a hobbit who doesn't like to gossip and he keeps people's secrets." Dwalin let out a snort of disagreement.
"As for this so-called burglar Master Baggins, when I arrived at the house, I had my doubts when I saw him bobbing and puffing on the door step," said Gloin. "It sounded like a shriek of fright, not excitement. One yell like that will have the dragon and all his relatives coming down on us. The fellow looks more like a grocer than a burglar.""
"Aye," said Dwalin. "The wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor defend themselves."
"We should leave I say," said another dwarf. Megan reminded herself she would have to get all these names soon.
"Aye, I would have thought that we were at the wrong house, if it wasn't for the sign on the door."" Gloin replied. There was the sound of the study door opening and Bilbo's quick footsteps.
"Pardon me," he said. "If I have overheard words that you are saying, I don't pretend to understand your reference to burglars, but I am right in believing that you believe that I am up to no good. There is no sign on the door, it was painted a week ago, but you may treat it as the correct one. Just tell me what needs to be done, and I will do it, even if I have to fight the wereworms of the East and West. Now as for you all, I had my doubts when I saw your faces at the door." The dwarves fell to grumbling at the hobbit's words, but Gandalf put a stop to it.
"If I say that Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is," he boomed. "There is more to him than any of you know, and he knows himself. You may live to think me when this venture is over. I have given you the fourteenth member of your company. You can question the man and the house all you like, and have all the bad luck you want, or go back to digging coal!" Silence fell after the old man's rant. Megan could feel Bilbo stirring beside her, and she knew he was about to speak.
"Now this is enough of the matter. Bilbo my boy, why not fetch us a light." Bilbo ain't no boy, Megan thought. How long would they belittle him and order him about tonight? Bilbo needed to sit down and rest before he had his first panic attack. She supposed that shriek that she heard was a panic attack of sorts, though she had never had one herself, so she couldn't say.
She shook her head as Bilbo scuttled back with a lamp. So began a long ass meeting about mountains and keys, and other things. Why would dwarves make secret entrances that needed to be read by the damn moon?
All of this is going to give me a damn headache, she thought.
"I don't understand," said Bilbo. "What is this all about?"
"Haven't we been talking about this for hours?" Thorin said. "And what of our song?"
"All the same," Bilbo replied. "I wish to have it plainer, and I wish to know about funeral arrangements, renumerations, and so forth," said Bilbo.
"What does that mean?" Megan whispered to him.
"What will I get out of it, and will I stay alive," answered Bilbo. Yet another long story began, with Thorin telling them about the wonders of Erebor before Smaug came, and his point of view of the attack. Megan shuddered at Thorin's description of the attack on Erebor and Dale.
I have something in common with these dwarves after all, she thought. I have lost my own home. Her annoyance at the dwarves began to soften. She could understand their desperation in wanting to reclaim their homeland.
She found that she was thirsty, and got up to make a glass of water.
"Well now, it is getting quite late," said Bilbo. "Have we not been talking about all of this for hours? I can get beds for you all, and will wake early to make a breakfast for you before you go."
"Before we go you mean," said Thorin. "I do however agree about breakfast. I like to have six eggs and ham for my breakfast before I start a journey. I want them fried, not poached and mind you not break them." Damn these dwarves, Megan thought, her annoyance returning. They need to learn manners.
They also ordered their breakfasts without even thanking their host. This isn't a restaurant people. Megan filled a glass of water from the pump and drank deeply.
Sighing, she decided to go to bed. It was a long and exhausting day, and Bilbo had a decision to make. She didn't know if he was going or not, but she made up her mind that she would travel with him. He needed a friend on the road, and these dwarves didn't seem like the friendliest bunch.
She couldn't blame Thorin, he had a lot of responsibilities as leader of this venture, and leadership was stressful as hell, she could remember her time as an RA in college. Still, Bilbo needed a friend to keep his spirits up on the road if he decided to accompany them on the journey.
Time would tell if he could be a burglar or not, it was a matter of getting past that fucking dragon without becoming ash himself. Shaking her head, she entered her room, fell on her bed, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The smell of ham awoke her the next morning. Yawning, she headed towards the kitchen, following the smell. She found that she was quite hungry, she hadn't eaten much sense that plate of ham and mushroom the night before.
"Hello Megan," said Bilbo. "Did you have a good night? I had rather uneasy dreams. I think there is some coffee for you, awe, yes, here in the cupboard, I shall make some for you. The dwarves are gone, but there is a fearful mess. I am making us ham and eggs."
"Hello Bilbo," said Megan. She sat down as Bilbo made her coffee. Soon the wonderful rich smell filled the kitchen as Bilbo scrapped the ham onto plates and fried some eggs.
"Yes, you like sunny side up," he said to himself as he worked. "I like mine over easy." He whistled as he worked.
When the coffee was done, Bilbo set down a large mug in front of her, handing her the cream and sugar. He joined her a few minutes later and slid her full plate in front of her. The food was delicious as usual, piping hot and fresh.
The ham was smokey and juicy, while the eggs had the right amount of salt on them. It was restaurant quality fare.
Once breakfast was over, Megan and Bilbo began the difficult job of cleaning up after fourteen guests. Didn't even clean up after themselves, Megan thought with a sigh. At least the sun was shining through the open window, and there was a gentle Spring breeze along with the sound of distant hobbit voices and birds.
The job was finally done, and Bilbo set about making his second breakfast.
"Do you wish for some pancakes?" he asked.
"I would like that," Megan replied. Bilbo made the best pancakes she ever tasted. They were perfectly moist and not too thick with crispy edges. There was fried potatoes and crunchy toast with jam, along with mushrooms sauteed in a butter sauce with a hint of lemon and garlic.
She had just taken a bite of mushroom when Gandalf entered and proceeded to scold poor Bilbo for not reading the letter on the mantel piece.
Bilbo attempted to argue back, but Gandalf said the if you had statement that drove Megan nuts. She hated it when people used that one on each other, it was as if people expected the other party to magically read their mind and find out what they wanted them to have done.
Bilbo read the letter aloud so that Megan could know the condense as well. It basically stated that they were thankful or his hospitality, and that he needed to be at the Green Dragon at eleven a.m.
'That just leaves you ten minutes,' said Gandalf.
"Bit," said Bilbo.
"No time for it,' said Gandalf.
"But," the hobbit repeated.
"No time for that either, off you go. I shall lock up." Megan and Bilbo got to their feet.
"Are you coming Megan?' Bilbo asked her in surprise.
"Yes, I am," said Megan. "I can't just sit here alone with you going on this journey. I will accompany you."
"Very well," said Bilbo, taking her hand and running with her out the door. "I couldn't stop you from going even if I wanted to."
"Les talking, more running," said Megan.
"It shall be a surprise," said Bilbo, leading her through a hedge.
"Well, they invited themselves in your hole, so I shall return the favor," said Megan. They spent the rest of the time in silence, running flat out without any money, pipes, pocket handkerchiefs, or anything else of need.
"Ah fuck I am out of shape," gasped Megan as they skidded to a halt outside the inn.
"There you are," said one of the elder dwarves. "Now we can set off."
"What are you doing here Miss," asked Thorin. "If you think you are accompanying us on this quest—"
"I am coming with you," Megan interrupted. "I have my own things that I must do, so I will be traveling with you for a while." There was immediate uproar at this, protests at the added person flying around her.
"Well, if she is not able to accompany us, then nor shall I," said Bilbo. "If she is not welcome, nor am I, I promised I shall help her with her business, and I shall."
"What business is that if I may ask?" Thorin growled.
"Finding my family," said Megan, only revealing part of the truth.
"GO and find them then," said Thorin, "You shall not accompany us."
"I am afraid Thorin Oakensheild that you shall have to except that she is coming," said Gandalf from behind them. Megan could hear the clip clop of his horse.
"Did you have a part in this Gandalf?" Thorin asked.
"No, I did not," Gandalf replied. "However, I shall not deny help to those who are in need of it."
"How do you know?" Megan asked.
"I remember what Bilbo said during our meeting in his garden. It is wise for you to travel with a company for your protection. I have your pipe and some handkerchiefs for you Bilbo."
"Who shall she ride with?" asked Dwalin. He too sounded displeased that she would be coming along. There was silence for a minute, clearly, they were reluctant to take on the burden of having her on their ponies.
"Come Miss, you shall ride with me." To Megan's surprise, it was Thorin who had volunteered. The dwarf helped her on his pony, and climbed up behind her.
"Thank you," said Megan. Thorin merely grunted in reply as they moved off away from the Shire.
Bilbo rode up next to Thorin's pony.
"Are you doing well Megan?" he inquired.
"I am doing fine for now," said Megan. "Do you know if we are going through the old forest?" she asked. She couldn't help the shaking of her voice as her mind flashed back to the menacing sounds of the trees as they moved to block her path at every turn she seemed to make, and the general feel of the place of being an unwelcome intruder without food, water, and the knowledge on how to get either of those things.
"I hope not," said Bilbo, "But I do not think so, there is more than one exit to the shire than the old forest. I have never stepped foot in the place, and I do not wish to."
"I guess I was just unlucky then," Megan grumbled.
"I must agree with you on the fortune of where you ended up," said Bilbo. "They say the trees are hostile to folks, and your experiences confirms what I have heard."
"We shall not enter that forest if I have anything to say on the matter," said Thorin. "I do not wish to deal with hostile trees."
"We shall be going down the brandywine bridge which is in a different direction to the Old Forrest," said Gandalf. "We shall be making our way to the Prancing Pony in Bree. Butterbur is a kindly fellow who shall have rooms for us. We should enjoy ourselves as much as we can, for we shall be relying on camping once we leave Bree."
"Well, that is a relief," said Megan.
As they rode, the dwarves sang. The sun shone bright while the air was filled with bird song.
The company was cheerful and hopeful as they crossed the Brandywine and made their way towards Bree. Thorin could see out of the corner of his eye that the woman was enjoying the singing. Her eyes were closed and a look of pleasure was on her face.
"Can you sing a song Megan?" the hobbit asked once the dwarves finished singing.
"I will later," said Megan quietly. Thorin could see sadness mixed with concern on her face. The hobbit nodded, and Thorin turned to observe his nephews who were laughing and joking with Nori and Bofur.
His own gloom settled around him as he thought on Dis's final words of anger towards him.
"If my boys die on this quest because you are not content with what you have, then I shall never forgive you brother." He sighed, watching the carefree expressions on their faces. May haps his sister was right in saying they were too young. They were both excellent warriors, but they were treating the quest like a fun adventure with treasures at the end.
He was afraid they would lose that innocent and carefree spark by the end.
He spotted Balin's concerned glance. Thorin shook his head at the elder dwarf, hoping he would drop the subject for now.
Balin nodded, turning his pony to ride ahead with Dwalin. After a while of the woman's silence, Bilbo followed Balin's example, and rode near Fili and Kili who greeted him with a cheerful Mr. Boggins which he immediately corrected.
They rode all that day, eager to get to Bree and the Prancing Pony. Thorin was not so eager, remembering Gandalf's grim conversation with him about Azog and Thrain. He wondered where his Father could be. Was he dead or experiencing worse? He had not given up on his Father ever sense he looked for him on that battle field, and he would still keep hope that he could be found alive.
"I wish for you to stay with one of us," said Thorin to his riding companion. "Bree is not a safe place, and I do not wish you to get hurt. You may buy any supplies that you may be in need of."
"I don't have any money," said Miss Megan.
"Worry not," said Thorin, "We shall provide what you need."
"I don't understand," said Megan. "You don't want me to travel with you, so why are you helping me? You could just dump my ass on the side of the road if you want to. It has happened to me before."
"Any decent man would not leave a person on the side of the road," growled Thorin. "It isn't that we do not wish you to travel with us, it is the safety that we are concerned with. Whomever left you on the side of the road was not worth calling themselves honorable. Sense we are traveling together, I shall not leave you to fend for yourself, especially with you being a blind woman." Thorin didn't want to think of anyone in his charge being captured by orcs. He knew from his various deadly encounters in battle how dangerous they could be, and he shuddered to think upon what happened to female prisoners. "Dwarves protect our women and do not allow any harm to come to them," Thorin added.
The woman nodded in understanding.
"I do however expect you to pull your weight," said Thorin. You can share the cooking of meals with Bombur.
The king was surprised at the grateful look that appeared on her face. He expected her to wine and grumble about the labor. Her hands looked as if they never did a day's work in her life. He suspected that her Mother did everything for her sense she couldn't see.
"Thank you," said Megan. "I rather enjoy cooking, and have never done so on a camp fire before. I know how to cook on a stove of course, but cooking over a campfire will be interesting. Can I learn how to start one?"
"How can you cook if you cannot see?" Thorin asked. He was curious in spite of himself, never having met a blind person before.
"I use my other senses," the woman explained. " If I am frying food, I listen for the change in sound, and I also use my sense of smell to tell my how done a dish is, along with taste. If I am frying potatoes, I taste them, and I also listen for a crispy scraping sound when I stir them around in the pan."
"You shall need sighted assistance, but you may learn how to make a fire," said Thorin. "Oin and Gloin will teach you this skill." She looked even happier at this if it was even possible to do so.
"Thank you for not pitying me and thinking I can't do anything just because I cannot see," she said.
"If you are capable of walking and talking, then you are capable of doing other skills, even without sight," said Thorin. "I shall not coddle you and hold your hand through everything. If you are in need of help, then we shall of course assist you, but you shall learn." Miss Megan looked quite relieved at his words.
"Thank you for not pitying me," she said. "There are people who think we can do very little. We can do just about anything a sighted person can, except we use alternative techniques."
"I see,' said Thorin. He hoped that she would be able to learn the skills she would need in order to survive in the wild and that she wouldn't be a burden on the company.
If she insists on accompanying us, then she shall learn to take care of herself as much as she is able to.
They stopped that night in a nice kops of trees by a running stream. Thorin helped the woman dismount, and lead her over to Oin and Gloin.
"The three of you shall get a fire going," he said. "You shall have to teach her how."
"She is blind," spluttered Gloin. "How can she light a fire if she cannot see?"
"I am quite certain that she is capable of learning," said Thorin coldly. "She is blind, not dumb. Do as I bid." Oin glowered at his brother.
"Aye Thorin," he said.
He stalked over to Bombur and his family.
"Get preparations out for supper. Miss Megan shall assist in the preparation of meals."
"Good," said Bombur, Bifur and Bofur nodding in agreement. Thorin continued around the camp, giving orders.
Fili and Kili were in charge of looking after the ponies, while their appointed burglar got out bed rolls for the night.
Satisfied at the camp taking shape, he went over to Balin and Dwalin to plan out their rout to Erebor.
"Right lass," said Oin. "We need to gather firewood first. I shall dig a small pit, for this is a cooking fire." Megan nodded, and went with Gloin to gather firewood.
Gloin told her what firewood to gather, while he chopped some big logs with his axe.
"Make sure that the pieces that you grab are not wet," he said. Megan nodded, feeling around for sticks of wood that she could carry.
She gathered quite a few small logs that didn't need to be cut, and went with Gloin back to camp. The fire pit was dug when they got back. Gloin instructed her how to layer on the wood, while Oin showed her how to use a flint and steal to light a fire.
She could smell smoke as she struck the flint and steal under Oin and Gloin's corrections after she nearly cut herself.
"I smell smoke," she said.
"Aye, that is a good start, there are sparks now. Pick up some smaller wood and leaves to feed the fire." She quickly did as she was told, and Oin helped her place it onto the growing fire.
"Not bad for a beginner," said Oin. "You shall get the hang of it the more you practice. See brother, she did quite well without her sight." Gloin grumbled to himself as he banked the fire to keep it from smoking.
Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur came towards the fire, ready to start the evening meal.
"All right lass, nice fire. I am Bofur." Megan smiled in his direction. She liked this dwarf already, his cheerful voice and manner put her at ease.
"Do you know how to use a knife?" Bombur asked, doubt in his tone. Megan sighed, trying to keep herself from getting irritated.
"Yes, I know how to use a knife. I have been cooking sense I was five," said Megan.
"I am sorry," said Bombur. "It is simply that we have not met a blind person before, and we don't know how people with your handicap do things."
"Please do not use that word," said Megan. "It is offensive. The correct term is disabled."
"Very well," said Bombur. "Can you chop up these potatoes and carrots? We are making stew." Megan smiled at him as he led her over to a large pile of potatoes. Nodding to herself, she got to work, using a rock as a cutting board. Carefully, she put her hand on top of her knife after feeling where she needed to cut.
Once she was done with the potatoes, she moved onto a smaller pile of carrots. She was relieved when that task was done.
Bombur directed her towards the pot where they waited for the water to boil.
This task seemed to go on forever. She sighed in relief as she heard the water begin to bubble.
"It is time to put everything in," she said. Bofur helped her put in the potatoes and carrots, while Bombur added the meat, and Bifur with Bombur's help added the spices, such as they had.
The four of them chatted while they took turns stirring the rapidly boiling stew. Megan's stomach began to growl, it smelled so good.
She found that Bofur was a kind and cheerful dwarf, all too willing to talk with her and help her with any task she needed doing.
Bifur and Bombur were quiet dwarves. According to Bofur, Bifur had an axe in his head, which only allowed him to speak bits of his dwarven language, while Bombur was simply a shy dwarf as Bofur told her.
"I know that Bombur is an excellent cook, but what do you and Bifur do?" Megan asked Bofur.
"We are toy makers, but Bifur is the better of the two of us. Why, children flock to his toy shop." Megan smiled softly. She loved kids, and any dwarf who had a soft spot for little ones was awesome in her book.
She one day dreamed of having a child, but there were fears of nurses being prejudice of her having a child. Sense she was blind, she knew that the nurse would probably call Child Protective Services on her. She had heard of a couple of cases of this sort, but the National Federation of the Blind had helped reunite one of the families. She didn't know about the state of the second family, she hoped that their child was returned to them.
She knew one thing, if any child was taken from her, her Mother would be in her corner, fighting tooth and nail for her to have her baby back.
A pang of sadness hit her as she thought of her Mom, Jenifer Evans was one of the kindest women she ever knew. growing up, her Mother worked two to three jobs to keep food on the table for the two of them.
She had told her daughter to always dream big and never give up.
Megan had to face a second helping of prejudice on top of the color of her skin, this one however was due to her being blind.
Her Mother fought fiercely so her daughter would get the best education she could have, overriding teachers at IEP meetings who were not sure on how to make things accessible for her classes. She set them straight with resources she had looked up that were in a large notebook.
"Always know what you need to fight for when you enter that disability services department in college," she had told her. "If they do not comply, go higher up and let the administration know. You have a right to an equal education, and they are breaking ADA laws if they do not comply." Upon her graduation, her Mother and some of her college friends had thrown a huge graduation party for her.
They had pizza and wine, and listened to music with plenty of dancing.
Megan was brought back from her thoughts by Bofur's voice.
"Bifur loves children," he was saying, "he is always so gentle with them, and loves to play with them while their Mothers take care of errands."
Once dinner was served, Bofur lead Megan to a spot to eat.
"I hope we will be in Bree tomorrow," said Bilbo, "I am ready for an ale and a song in front of the fire."
"That sounds nice," said Megan, taking a bite of stew. She felt a hand on her shoulder as someone sat beside her.
"Bifur is saying hello to ye," said Bofur.
"Hello Bifur," said Megan. The dwarf patted her shoulder in response. She could soon hear his carving knife sawing against a piece of wood. She was excited to see what he was carving.
She admired people who made things instead of just buying them, it showed creativity. She had always scoffed at people who bought birthday or other holiday cards at a store instead of making one themselves, it screamed of I am desperate to get my loved one a gift, but I am too lazy to make one myself. Of course, there were the people who weren't good at writing things down, she knew of several people who lacked that talent.
While they ate, the rest of the company chatted amongst themselves, Dori and Nori were sniping at one another about something or other that he stole, while Fili and Kili talked to Bilbo about hobbit customs.
Megan didn't hear Thorin talking, so she assumed that he liked his silence after a long day. She didn't blame him for that, it was the same for her after a long day behind television cameras reporting on the shitty things that people liked to do to one another.
She loved journalism, but it was an emotionally draining job at times.
There were times when the kidnapping of a child brought her to tears at home, and her Mom would make her peanut butter cookies, and draw her a hot bubble bath.
Bifur continued to carve while Bofur played a merry tune on his flute. It reminded Megan of an Irish dancing song.
Once she was done with her bowl, Bombur came over to take it to the stream where Gloin was washing the dishes.
"All right Bilbo," she said when the meal was finished. "I believe that I said I would sing a song later." She took a deep drink of water from her water skin.
"Yes, you did," said Bilbo. "What song are you going to sing?"
"I think you will recognize the tune," said Megan. She had been taught many hobbit songs by Bilbo during the past year.
The company fell silent as Megan began to sing.
"Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet."
The company listened as Bilbo joined his Tenor to Megan's Soprano.
"Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun." Bombur pounded a rock with a spoon as Megan and Bilbo continued to sing.
"Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!" Fili and Kili tapped their feet as the song continued, while Bofur played a merry tune to accompany the singing.
"Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
The world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!"
"That was the entire song?" Gloin grumbled. "Not a very long song if you ask me."
"Why should it be?" Bilbo huffed. "Shire songs are light and cheerful, and get straight to the point without a lot of overdone antics. Besides, the length makes it easy to sing along to, not a lot of words for folks to try and memorize."
"That is quite enough," said Gandalf as Gloin opened his mouth to retort. "I believe that we shall all learn about one another's cultures on this journey. Each of us has our own history, traditions, and way of doing things. Perhaps we can learn to accept these differences and celebrate what we share in common, which is good song, no matter how long or short the composition may happen to be. Now as the song so eloquently stated, and now to bed, for we have a long ride ahead of us if we wish to reach Bree by tomorrow evening."
"Don't mind my brother's words laddy," said Oin. "He is merely jealous of your skills as a singer. He sounds as if he has rocks lodged in his throat when he sings, cannot carry a tune to save his life if the need were to take place." Megan burst out laughing as Gloin let out a bellow of outrage and proceeded to call Gloin all sorts of unflattering things in his language.
Perhaps Gandalf was right, she reflected as Bifur helped her with her bedroll.
We all have a lot to learn from one another. Perhaps I was harsh in judging the dwarves as being unfriendly. They seemed to be a close bunch who loved one another fiercely.
Bifur willingly helping her was a good example of the friendliness of dwarves.
