Aule sat on his great throne, Yavana at his side. In his work worn hands lay three symbols, forged out of metal. A shield, a wreath of flowers with a cup in the center.
"Is it time to place the mark?" Yavana asked.
"Not yet, we must wait until night falls.
Thorin oakenshield sat with his back against a tree for his turn on watch. Gandalf and their burglar had both informed him that the Shire was well guarded, and that nothing dangerous would happen. Thorin however, wished to take no chances. The quest was far too important for foolish mistakes to be made, even at the boarders of the Shire.
Sighing, he took out his pipe and filled it with pipe weed. Old Toby was what the hobbit had called it, best weed in the South Farthing according to both him and Gandalf. Thorin had to grudgingly admit they were right. It was by far the best pipe weed he had tasted in a good long while. It was a smooth flavor tasting of good clean earth.
He could just make out the sun rising at the edge of their camp, the sky just beginning to lighten. If they ate breakfast and started now, they would make it to Bree that evening.
He watched as Miss Megan opened her eyes and sat up with a yawn.
"Morning," he said.
"Oh, good morning Thorin," she replied. "What time is it?"
"An hour before dawn," said Thorin. "The sun is just rising. We shall be setting out soon. You may start on some porridge if you wish, I shall assist you in getting some water. The ground is steep down to the stream, and is difficult to traverse." With her nod, he walked quickly to the stream, filling the pan with the right amount of water.
He quickly returned, setting out the fruit, oats, and honey for her use. Once the water began to boil, he poured in the oats, fruit and honey for her, and lead her to the pan. She continued to yawn, blinking to stay awake as she stirred the porridge.
"Do you wish for coffee?" Thorin asked.
"Yeah, if there is any," said Megan.
"Aye, there are a few of us in this company whom partake in coffee upon waking. I am one of them." Megan smiled at him.
"I would love some then," she said. Thorin grabbed a smaller pan, perfect for coffee making and brought it to the fire. The sat across from each other, looking after the oats in coffee in silence.
"I am used to waking this early for my work," said Miss Megan.
"Are women allowed to become employed where you live?" Thorin asked.
"Yes, we are allowed," said Megan.
"I am surprised that human men are thus open minded," said Thorin. "From what I know of humans, men do not like women leaving their duties as house wives." He spat that last word in disgust. Men treated women like cattle, unlike dwarves. Dwarven women had wills of their own, and had their own crafts same as the men. They were not forced into marriage unlike human women. Women were precious to them, sense there were far too few of them.
"Things are different where I am from," said Megan, taking the pot off the fire. Thorin found a pile of bowls and helped her serve while the coffee brewed.
Thorin called the company to wake for breakfast. The dwarves were not happy at being woken so early. They fell to grumbling at arguing while Thorin poured himself and Miss Megan coffee.
"That is enough," he growled. "I will not hear arguing at this time of the morning. Eat your breakfast and we shall be off."
"I suppose you had to make breakfast," said Gloin to Thorin. "I also suppose that Miss Megan sat on her hands and did nothing." Master Baggins glared at Gloin, eyes flashing in anger.
"You suppose wrong," Thorin growled. "She was first up and did not complain at her share of the work and the hour of waking. You shall wash the dishes Gloin and keep your mouth shut." Thorin was surprised at his defense of the woman, he was one of the most vocal at her not coming on this journey, but she was pulling her weight without complaint.
He was impressed in spite of himself and his ingrained mistrust of humans. She learned quickly and was a hard worker.
"Furthermore Gloin, you shall assist in training Miss Megan in learning how to weald blade to defend herself." There was immediate uproar at his pronouncement.
"Your mad," said Gloin.
"She cannot see," said Nori.
"You are asking too much Thorin," said Balin. He could just make out the hurt in Miss Megan's eyes at being underestimated. Thorin let out a growl of anger. He could see that the hobbit was angry at the lot of them as well. He had seen his nod of approval at his idea.
Gandalf was simply sitting there, smoking his pipe, not wishing to get into the argument at this hour in the morning. It seemed that only he and Bilbo thought her capable.
"It is not fare to ask her to learn that skill," said Bofur, "we are capable of defending her." Bifur and Bombur nodded in agreement.
"Aye, Bofur is right," said Fili, Kili nodding at his side. Thorin leapt to his feet. Were they all going to question his decision as the leader of this company? Even Dwalin, his longtime friend and shield brother was in accord with the others.
"She is too weak," he growled. "She can neither fight nor defend herself." Thorin shot him a look of disappointment and turned to the rest of the babbling group. Bilbo walked over to Miss Megan and put a supporting hand on her shoulder.
"Take no mind of what they are saying," he said. Thorin was surprised that he could make out what the hobbit was saying at the rest of the company's talking around him. "You will show them all what you are capable of in time, confusticate and bebother them all," said the hobbit.
"Enough!" Thorin bellowed over them. "Do you dare question my judgement as your leader and king?" he growled, fire in his eyes.
Even Dwalin stepped back at the thunderous look on his face.
"If I say she is to learn, then she shall learn," Thorin growled. "I will hear no more on the matter. You shall start your training upon our leaving of Bree Miss Megan. Now, break up camp and on your ponies all of you!"
The camp was quickly destroyed, and they were off traveling once more.
"My hair," said Miss Megan with a sad sigh.
"You can tend to it once we take a break," said Bilbo, helping her onto Thorin's pony.
The mood of the company grew cheerful once more, the argument of the morning quite behind them. Miss Megan began yawning around noon and she was blinking to stay awake.
"Sleep if you wish," said Thorin. "Get it while you are able." He knew that after Bree, they would have to double their alertness, and sleep would be more difficult to come by.
Thorin awoke Miss Megan around noon for their lunch break. Bombur brought out various meats and cheeses for a cool lunch. While they ate, Megan braided her huge mound of curly hair with Master Bilbo's aid. It looked quite complex to Thorin. It involved cutting off damaged ends, and weaving and braiding different sections.
It seemed forever for them to get finished.
"That is a fine box braid," said Miss Megan. "Thank you for the help Bilbo. Mind that you are careful while you are riding so it does not damage."
"All of that nonsense for hair," Gloin grumbled. "It does not take us as long to braid our hair. We don't need to make a production out of our hair."
"Do not mind him," said Bilbo loudly. "I believe he is jealous of your fine hair. Besides, I have heard that dwarves take pride in their hair, so he should not speak on the matter." Miss Megan wore a weary and resigned look, one that clearly told Thorin that she was used to comments such as what Gloin made.
"Hair is a part of her culture, each hair due means something, and it keeps her hair healthy."
"Never mind Bilbo," she said with a sigh. "I am used to dealing with black hair prejudice. At least I won't have to worry about getting taken from my job because of it."
"How often has that happened?" asked Bilbo.
"I have gotten fired from three jobs because I refuse to straighten my natural hair."
"That is an outrage," said Bilbo. "DO all black people have to deal with that?"
"Yes," said Megan. "My Mom told me how she had to deal with her Mother pulling a hot comb through her hair to straighten it. She promised herself she would not have any child of hers go through that process." There was angry muttering from a lot of the company.
As Bilbo so rightly stated, hair was important in dwarven culture.
Gloin turned away looking a bit guilty as Thorin helped her onto his pony.
The company arrived at the Prancing Pony at sundown. They were welcomed by unfriendly stared from the men in the street. Thorin ushered the company in the inn where Gandalf was ordering rooms and food for them. Bilbo frowned at the people in the inn who were eyeing the dwarves with unfriendliness and mistrust. The company found their tables at the back of the common room and began to eat and drink, their hands near their weapons in case of trouble.
There wasn't any singing that night, even though the inn was filled with lively voices. He wondered why the dwarves were so unwelcomed in the small town, he had often heard that Bree was friendly to travelers.
Bilbo sighed and applied himself to his ale and fried mushrooms. Butterber had a hobbit sized room available for him.
He decided to turn early. Tomorrow would be a busy day. He would have to help Megan buy some important traveling supplies. He ignored the singing that seemed to call him from the Bree Hobbits in another part of the common room, and made his way towards his little room.
A basin of steaming water stood by a small closet for hanging clothing. He undressed and sunk into the steaming bath with a grateful sigh.
The water got rid of his saddle soreness. He hoped that Miss Megan had a tub of water, he knew how much she loved a hot bath at the end of a long day.
Once his hair was washed, both foot and head, he splashed water with his feet for the fun of it and began to sing.
"Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!"
"I have a bath!" came a happy feminine yell from the room that connected his own. Bilbo smiled as he heard a splash and a squeal of delight.
"I'm a dolphin!" she said, laughing as she splashed in the water. "No, I'm a seagull." Bilbo chuckled as she continued to list sea animals and changing her mind about which she was.
The walls must be pretty thin if he could hear her in the next room.
"I think you should stick with dolphin!" Bilbo called to her. "I shall be a seagull!"
"You would make a handsome seagull," said Megan. Bilbo blushed at her words.
"You would make a pretty dolphin," he replied, causing her to laugh.
Bilbo finished his bath and dried his curly hair.
After letting his hair dry, he leapt into the soft feather mattress and fell asleep.
Aule waited quietly until Thorin, Bilbo, and Miss Megan were asleep, and then began his chant, going to each of their rooms on silent invisible feet.
"May the shield that you bare be the foundation, may the flower give your spirit nourishment, may the cup bring you unity." Upon each of their right arms appeared a mark of an oaken branch, a flower wreath, and a wooden cup. The symbols wove in and out, surrounded by a single word, Umoja.
He wove his blessing upon each of the sleepers before leaving the inn on silent feet to where his wife was waiting.
"It is done," he whispered to her. She nodded and took his hand, leading him back to their home.
A/N: Umoja is the first principal celebrated in Kwanzaa. It means unity.
I hope you all are enjoying this story.
