Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own the wonderful world of Harry Potter or LOTR.
-Chapter 8-
"So let me get this straight. You want to get together a group to go on a quest to the Lonely Mountain to FIGHT A DRAGON?" Hermione massaged her temples.
She was currently sitting in a plush chair that she surprisingly fit, for everything was Hobbit-sized, as she listened to Gandalf explain what was going on. She looked at the old wizard with a slight frown.
"Gandalf, you know my story. I came to this world to heal. I just finished a war. I am not here to participate in another one." She said softly.
"I am fully aware of that, young one. But you cannot run forever, for wherever there is light, there will always be darkness. Besides, you are the one who said you wanted to see more of Middle-Earth and what it has to offer. I am simply asking that you merely come along with us as far as you wish to go. You are bound by no oath." Gandalf pleaded.
"I don't know…" Hermione was hesitant. Even in her world, fighting dragons was no easy task. But then again, Gandalf did offer an out whenever she wants.
"Typical of an elf. Blind to the needs of others and never willing to help! They care for only themselves and their own kin! Leave the she-elf, Gandalf! We have no need of her! We are fine on our own!" A deep voice spat out.
The two turned to the dwarf who spoke. He was dark, unruly hair that fell to his back. His eyes were set deep and full of fury as he looked at Hermione. Seeing as he was the one to speak so openly and forcefully, Hermione could only assume that he was the leader of this group of dwarves. Her frown only deepened at his words. So the books rang true. There is bad blood, it seems, between the dwarves and elves.
"Hold your tongue, Thorin! Hermione is a very skilled warrior with unique abilities! Do not be so prideful to not seek help! You will need all the help you can get if you want to take back Erebor!" Gandalf bellowed at the now identified dwarf as Thorin.
'Wait…Thorin? Why does that name sound so familiar…!' Hermione's eyes widened, then narrowed.
She stood tall and calm and faced Thorin with fire in her eyes. "I know of you, Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain. Your people dwelled under the Mountain under King Thror's reign before you were attacked by the dragon and forced to flee."
At the notion that she knew who they were, the dwarves stood next to Thorin as if they were expecting some sort of attack. Hermione scoffed in her mind. She'd like to think she was reasonable so they had no need to be so defensive with her.
"I also heard about how your king held gold above all else and was wrought with greed. It was because of his obsession with jewels and gold that brought the fiery beast to your kingdom. For a dragon covets nothing more than riches." Hermione stated.
"Yes, and when the dragon came, we turned to the elves for aide. And did they help that day as countless of my people died in flames? NO! Your kin turned their eye and did nothing!" Thorin shouted.
"While that may be so, you cannot blame me for that transgression! For I was not even there when it happened! You cannot blame a whole race for the actions of one!" Hermione argued.
"You elves are all the same! Hiding away in your forests and protecting only your own!" Thorin fired back.
"If you honestly believe that, then you are blind and ignorant! Lord Elrond of Imladris aided in the war with the dark Lord Sauron! He fought alongside men for the liberation of the free races!" Hermione spat.
"What would you know of war! Of pain! Of loss! You can only speak so highly because you have never dealt with such darkness!" Thorin hissed.
At this, Hermione's face darkened and Gandalf took a step forward to end this. But Hermione held her hand up for him to cease. She slowly walked to Thorin and was but a foot away from him.
"I was not always an elf. I was once a daughter of man before I was brought to this world." Hermione said calmly.
Thorin looked at her confused.
"I was only a young girl. The war in my previous world also involved a dark lord who despised those of impure blood. He advocated blood supremacy and was out to 'cleanse' the world of those undeserving. The war started even before my time. My friends and I were not even aware we were ever playing a part in this war until our fifth year in school. Things escalated and the war did not end until our final year of school. And by then, we saw friends fall. Loved ones killed one after the other. The world was hit hard, despite winning. So do not talk to me of loss and pain. I have had plenty of that." With this, Hermione turned and walked out the door before shutting it with a resounding thud.
The occupants of the room stood in silence before Bilbo broke it.
"Gandalf… Is what she says true? That she is from another world?" He asked in disbelief.
Gandalf sighed. "You are not the only one who has suffered in their lifetime, Thorin."
And with that, Gandalf too walked out in search of the distraught elleth. He found her in the gardens leaning against the tree, watching the moon. Slowly, Gandalf walked up to her and stood next to her while leaning on his staff. For a moment, they both stood there in comfortable silence.
"It has been centuries, Gandalf. But the wound is still there. And I do not think it will ever go away. I will always remember the losses." Hermione whispered.
"You can never truly forget the pain, dear one. You can only come to accept it. Only then will you truly be healed." Gandalf smiled softly.
Hermione stood there a moment more before sighing and turned to Gandalf.
"I will go with you on this ridiculous quest, Gandalf. But I cannot promise the safety of Thorin from my fist if he so much as even insinuate my character based on his prejudice." Hermione crossed her arms.
Gandalf chuckled. "I expect no less, Naur Arwen." (Lady of Fire/Fire Lady)
Hermione rolled her eyes at his childish nickname and walked off.
"Where are you going now?" Gandalf called after her.
"I said I will be joining you, but I refuse to sleep under the same roof as a narrow-minded dwarf who holds onto grudges against a race rather than the ones responsible!" Hermione shouted back over her shoulder.
Early the next morning, Hermione was all ready and packed, waiting on the rest of the entourage. First walked out Gandalf, followed by the dwarves. When the last dwarf walked out, they closed the door.
"Where is the Hobbit? I thought he was joining as well?" Hermione asked Gandalf.
"Oh. He will be along shortly." Gandalf smiled mysteriously.
Hermione sighed and straddled her horse before kicking it off into a walk. The others followed her lead with Gandalf in the front and the dwarves not far behind. With her enhanced hearing, she could hear the dwarves muttering their dissent with her joining the quest. It was not long after they entered a forest that she heard someone shouting behind them.
"WAIT! WAIT!"
The whole group stopped and turned to look to see Bilbo Baggins running up to them flailing what looked like a long parchment and carrying a bulging sack. And he seemed to be in a hurry. Hermione put two and two together then turned to look at Gandalf with an amused face.
"Really, Gandalf? You left him behind?" Hermione chuckled.
"I didn't leave him behind. He was just too slow with making a decision I already knew he would. I just decided to be productive and move us out first. I knew he would catch up. Sooner or later." Gandalf smiled.
"I signed the contract!" Bilbo handed the parchment to one of the dwarves that Hermione now know as Balin.
"Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield, Master Baggins!" Balin said.
"Contract? Why didn't I have to sign one?" Hermione mused.
"Because we do not wish to be bound legally to an elf!" Thorin snorted.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She does not know if she can stay calm around this group. It was worse than trying to be mediator between Ronald and Harry when they were in a fight. At least with them she can reason and manhandle. But with these dwarves, it was like dealing with immature children with temper tantrums. They were beyond reasoning. But suffer she must for she has already made up her mind to help at least Gandalf on his spontaneous quest at best.
As one of the dwarves settled Bilbo with a pony, the others started trading bags of coins.
"What's that about?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, they took wagers on whether or not young Master Baggins would turn up or not. Most of them bet that he wouldn't." Gandalf chuckled.
"And what did you think?" Hermione asked.
Gandalf raised his hand and caught an incoming bag of coins, smiled at Hermione, then tucked it in his sleeve.
"I never doubted him for a second." Gandalf smiled.
"Of course you didn't." Hermione laughed.
"No, no! Wait! Stop! We have to go back." Bilbo suddenly said.
The group once again stopped and turned to look at the last of their company.
"What is it, Master Baggins?" Hermione asked.
"I forgot my handkerchief." He muttered.
The dwarves around them groaned before there was a tearing sort of sound. Bofur tossed a dirty-looking cloth at Bilbo.
"Here, use this."
Bilbo held the cloth up between two fingers with disbelief and scrutiny. Hermione had to agree with him as she mentally cringed. That piece of cloth from what she assumed was part of Bofur's shirt must not have been washed for weeks. Months even.
"You'll have to manage without pocket -handkerchiefs and a good many other things, Bilbo Baggins, before we reach our journey's end. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you; the world is ahead." Gandalf smiled sadly.
A/N: I felt bad for not updating once a week like I initially promised so to make it up I decided to upload the next chapter sooner! Hope you guys enjoyed it! As always, please review!
~lalune30
