Chapter 8
Thorin Arrives
We all head to the front door. Dwalin kept his arms crossed as I stood next to him and Fili. Gandalf opens the door and Thorin stood on the doorstep. Thorin looks in.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find." Thorin said. He stepped in and took off his cloak, handing it to Kili who took it. "I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all not been for that mark on the door." Bilbo ran towards the door.
"Mark? There's no mark on the door. It was painted a week ago!" Bilbo said. I shook my head as Gandalf shut the door.
"There is a mark. I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our Company. Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf said.
"So, this is the Hobbit." Thorin said. He circles Bilbo looking him over. "Tell me Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Bilbo turned and looked at him as he stopped in front of me and Dwalin.
"Pardon me?" Bilbo asked.
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin asked.
"Well, I have some skill in Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo said.
"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thorin said. The dwarves laugh as Thorin turned to us. He smiled seeing me. He puts an arm around me as we walked towards the table. "How was the trip?"
"It went well. He doesn't seem happy we are here." I said.
"I think we came unexpectendly and Gandalf didn't tell him much. Can you get me something to eat?" Thorin asked. I nod. I went to get a plate of food and a cup of ale as the dwarves sat down at the table. I brought them over and set them in front of him. I sat down next to Dwalin, who was sitting next to Gandalf who was sitting next to Thorin and Balin on the other side of Thorin as he ate.
"What news from the meeting in Blue Mountains? Did they all come?" Balin asked.
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin said. THe dwarves murmer in joy. I sat and listened quietly.
"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked. I knew Dain was Thorin's cousin and next to take the throne if anything happened to Thorin and his nephews.
"They will not come." Thorin said. The dwarves mumble and look sad. "They say this quest is ours and ours alone." Dwalin sighed in disappointment.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf said. Bilbo brings a candle over to the table as Gandalf spreads out a map on the table. I lean forward to look at it. It was a map of the Lonely Mountain with a Dragon over the Mountain. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo read.
"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time." Gloin said.
"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." Oin said.
"Uh what beast." Bilbo said, looking worried.
"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 meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals..." Bofur said.
"Enough Bofur." I said.
"Yes I know what a dragon is." Bilbo said. Ori shot up.
"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie." Ori said. I shook my head. That young one was brave as the dwarves cheer and Dori pulls him down.
"Sit down!" Dori said.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen and not thirteen of the best, nr brightest." Balin said.
"Hey, who are you calling dim?" Kili said.
"Watch it." Nori said.
"No!" Kili said.
"What did he say?" Oin asked.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf and fairy!" Fili said, shooting me a smile.
"And you forget we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will ahve killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Kili said. I had to hide a laugh.
"Oh, well now, uh I wouldn't say that, I..." Gandalf stumbled.
"How many, then?" Dori asked.
"Uh, what?" Gandalf asked.
"Well how many dragons have you killed?" Dori asked. Thorin gave him a questioning look and I shook my head. He walked into that one as Gandalf chocked on his smoke. "Come on give us a number!" The dwarves jumped to their feet and started arguing. I rubbed my temples. This was getting out of control. Thorin shot to his feet.
"SHAZARA!" Thorin yelled. The dwarves sat down fast. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will ahve 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 unproctected. Do we sit back while other claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?" I join the dwarves in cheers. "Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" Thorin sits down as we calm down.
"You forget! The front gate is sealed. There is no way into the Mountain!" Balin said.
"That my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf said. Gandalf produces a dwarvish key after twiddling his fingers. Thorin looks at it in wonder.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is your now." Gandalf said, handing Thorin the key. Everyone stays quiet as they look at the key.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili said. Gandalf points to the map with his pipe.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf said.
"There's another way in!" Kili said. Dwalin looked at me and we shared a smile.
"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 cleaver, I believe it can be done." Gandalf said.
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori said.
"Hm. A good one, too. An epert, I'd imagine." Bilbo said.
"And are you?" Gloin asked as all of us look at him.
"Am I what?" Bilbo asked.
"He said he's an expert! Hey hey!" Oin said. Some dwarves laugh.
"Me? No, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar, I've never stolen a thing in my life." Bilbo said.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin said. Bilbo agrees in agreement.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin said. Dwarves started arguing. I grab him by the hair and pulled. He turned as I glared at him.
"You do realize you are also talking about me." I said in a hiss. Dwalin paled.
"I wasn't talking about you lass." Dwalin put a hand on mine, but I pulled it away. Dwalin went to say something when Gandalf stood up to his full height and casts darkness over the group. We all stop and stared at him in shock.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is!" Gandalf said. He goes back to his normal self. "Hobits 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." He turns and looks at Thorin. "You asked me to find the fifteenth member of this comapnay, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances sugest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know including himself. You must trust me on this." I Smile.
"Very well. We will do it your way." Thorin said.
"No, no, no." Bilbo said. Thorin held up his hand as he looked at Balin.
"Give him the contract." Thorin said.
"Please." Bilbo said as Balin pulled out the contract and stood up.
"Alright, we're off." Bofur said.
"It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth." Balin said.
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo said as Thorin takes the contract and shoves it in Bilbo's hand. Bilbo moves away. Thorin leans over to Gandalf.
"I cannot guarantee his safety." Thorin said.
"Understood." Gandalf said.
"No will I be responsible for his fate." Thorin growled. Gandalf looks at him.
"Agreed." Gandalf said. We look towards Bilbo as he reads the contract.
"Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding on 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..." Bilbo said. Gandalf looked confused and I raised an eyebrow. Evisceration..." He turned and stared at us. Incineration?"
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur said. I kicked him hard from under the table. He gave me a confused look as Bilbo looks a little breathless.
"Shut up." I said.
"You alright, laddie?" Balin asked as Bilbo looked nauseous.
"Uh, yeah... Feel a bit faint." Bilbo said. Bofur stands up and I put a hand to my head knowing it was gonna get bad.
"Think furnance with wings." Bofur said.
"Air, I need air." Bilbo said.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then Poof! you're nothing more than a pile of ash." Bofur said. I watched Bilbo as he breathed heavily.
"Hmmm. Nope!" Bilbo said. He falls to the floor in faint. I quickly got out of my chair and hurry over to check on him as Gandalf stands up.
"Ah, very helpful Bofur." Gandalf said.
"What? I was trying to help." Bofur grumbled.
"He just fainted. You dwarves need to be more respectful with him." I said. Gandalf carries Bilbo over to the chair near the fire. I grabbed Thorin's plate and drink and went to wash it.
"I'm sorry, lass. I forget you are a fairy, but got a heart of a dwarf being with us for so long." Dwalin said, coming over as I finish.
"It's fine. I feel bad for our burglar." I said. We saw Bilbo get up and leave.
"I don't think he will be. Come." Dwalin said, wrapping an arm around me and leading me to the living room.
Thorin's POV. Balin and I stood talking and watched Celete and Dwalin, who had his arm around her walk into the parlor.
"They are getting close." Balin said.
"I noticed. I am wondering if she is his one or something." I said.
"I think time will tell. It would be a good pair." Balin said.
"Time will only tell my old friend." I said. Balin nodded in agreement.
Celeste's POV. I sat on the couch that I would be sleeping on as the dwarves gather smoking on their pipes. Thorin and Fili leaned against the fireplace. Thorin was looking in the fireplace. The dwarves started humming. Dwalin sat in a chair next to me. Thorin started singing and I sat and listened.
"Far overy the misty mountains cold. To dungeons deep and caverns old. We must away ere break of day. To find our long forgotten gold." Thorin sang. Other dwarves joined in and stood up. I stayed sitting as I listened. "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." I smile sadly. It was a sad song. "Get to bed. We leave at first light." I grabbed a blanket off my bag and laid down on the couch as the dwarves spread out on the floor. Dwalin laid down right next to the couch next to me with his hands behind his head.
"We are finally doing this." I said.
"Aye we are lass. Try and get some sleep." Dwalin said. I roll onto my back and look up and stared at the ceiling. The dwarves snoring lulled me into a dreamless sleep.
AN: Whew. Four chapters in a day. Yes I am bored. This Covid-19 sucks. Till next time