Thorin took his spot at the head of the table as Gandalf sat at the other end with Bilbo standing by his side and Hermione sitting in a corner to look on. The rest of the company sat on each side waiting for the newcomer to speak, but instead one of his company did instead.
"So what word of our kin in the Iron Hills?"
"They say it's a lost cause" he responded
"Haven't they seen the signs?"
"Yes, ravens are returning to the mountain we say it's time" the elder of the Dwarves said
"Aye!" The others agreed
"But not let us forget what dwells within" Gandalf reminded them
"Yes, Smaug"
"Sorry who is this Smaug?" Bilbo hesitantly asked
"A fierce dragon that dwells in the Lonely Mountain"
That well known fact silenced whatever voice that was still heard.
"Didn't you all forget!? We have a wizard in our company Gandalf would have killed a hundred dragons in his time! Right Gandalf!?" Kili shouted turning all attention to the grey wizard who began to choke on his smoke
"Well! Give us a number!!" Another shouted beginning an argument
Shouting and pointing tossing accusations at one another.
"Enough!!" Thorin shouted silencing them all abruptly
"Now Gandalf how do propose we enter the entrance has been sealed for sixty years" the elder asked
"Balin is right, without a way in we may as well consider ourselves dead" Thorin agreed
"Well there...is a way" Gandalf said holding an old key of Dwarven make
"Where did you get that?" Thorin asked realizing what it was
"It was given to me by your father...Thrain" he answered
"Now it is yours" he said handing it over to him
"Now that we have a way in now need to plan, to retrieve the Archon stone" Balin said
One of the company pulled out a map and everyone crowded the piece of parchment.
"Now what we need to in order for us get the stone we need to get past Smaug" Balin said
"Yes, dragons have a keen sense of smell"
"We need a person of skill and cunning"
"We need a burglar" Thorin bluntly said
"And a pretty darn good one I bet" Bilbo added
"And are you?" Balin asked him
"Am I-what no! I have never stolen a thing in my life!" Bilbo said in shock at the very thought
"The boys right, he is a bit green" Balin agreed
That was when began to say comments to support Balin's claim in which Bilbo felt a bit of relief.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, a burglar he is" Gandalf said as the room darkened as a result to his rage Hermione had never felt a more disturbing or powerful presence
"Hobbits are light on their feet able to sneak past the best of us, and the stench of a Hobbit is foreign to Smaug" Gandalf reasoned
"Alright give it to him, Bofur" Balin ordered
Bofur then handed the young Hobbit a folded piece of paper in which he undid to find a contract into the company with conditions.
"That reminds me Gandalf, who is the young maiden?" Thorin asked nodding towards Hermione who had all been quiet during the exchange
"Would you introduce yourself dear"
"Oh I am Hermione Granger pleased to meet you" She said with a small smile
"And when did you take her on?" Thorin asked returning to Gandalf
"She is a more recent addition"
"If she too is to join us, she too must sign that contract same as Bilbo" he whispered in his ear who nodded in response
Hermione stood over Bilbo reading with as carefully and thoroughly as he was.
"Incineration?" Bilbo asked the Dwarves
"Oh yeah burn the flesh off your bones they will" Bofur confirmed
After reading it Bofur tried to comfort him though failing terribly he stopped until he fainted to the floor. With the help of Hermione and Gandalf they help support him till they got him in his chair in his den.
"I'm alright, I just need to sit" he reassured while holding a cup of warm tea
"You've been sitting for far too long"
"Gandalf I just can't be going off, I'm a Baggin"
"You are also a Took" the old wizard retorted
"Did you know that your great great great uncle was so large he could ride a regular horse? He even fought in the battle of the Rolling Hills knocking the Goblin King's head off"
"Now you're just making that up"
"Nevertheless he wasn't afraid to try, even if it meant his life" he said
"I'll think about it" he answered in which Gandalf gave him a wary eye
Bilbo got up and walked to the other side of the room as Thorin approached the old wizard.
"It's for the best Gandalf the world is no place for gentl folk" Thorin said
Hermione had received her own copy of the exact same contract that paralleled the conditions as Bilbo's own. She held it tight looking at the line that read 'signature' carefully weighing her options until Gandalf saw her.
"What is wrong miss Granger?" He asked
"What oh sorry, I'm starring at this and...I'm at a lost" she confessed
Nodding he sat by her cleaning his pipe with a weathered cloth.
"Well there are two things you need to consider when such a problem appears"
"What are they?"
"Is what you want or what you need more important"
"Is there a difference?" She asked confused
"Wanting makes you crave for more and is short lived, but what you need stays with you forever" he answered patting her shoulder then returning to the company
Again returning her gaze to the contract when the Dwarves began to sing once more.
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
Hermione heard the song they spoke of familiar things to themselves, that was when it hit her they were singing about their home that had been taken from them.
The pines were roaring on the heights
The wind were moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light
Looking down she got up immediately and approached Bilbo.
"Master Baggins? Do you have a quill and ink?"
"Yes, miss Granger over there in my study" he gestured
She quickly enter the rather neat study desk grabbing a quill dipping it in ink and signed the contract. She then handed it to Balin who eyed her then the contract hesitant in her decision he nevertheless smiled at her and welcomed her into the company in which she smiled brightly.