The dwarves along with the wizard, hobbit and shifter settled in the dining room, the young king dug into a bowl of soup and bread that he was given from Bilbo.
The whole room filled with silence, making Eleanor nervous. She rubs up against her brother before going into the corner to sit down, she eyed up each of the dwarves. As her eyes landed on Dwalin her heart skipped a beat; looking at him she knew he would make a fine mate indeed.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin?" Balin asks his king hopeful "Did they come?" Thorin pauses as moment looking around the room, he sighs at their hopeful looks.
"Aye" He simply says, taking a bite out of his homemade bread "Envoys from all seven kingdoms" The company muttered in excitement at the news.
"And what did the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say?" Dwalin asked "Is Dain with us?"
Thorin gave out a heavy sigh, still a little disappointed with his cousin. He knew this was his burden to bare but still he at least hoped to have his cousins assistance "They will not come" Thorin mumbled out. The company faces fell at his words and began whispering too each other "They say this quest is ours and ours alone"
Eleanor looks on at the company, she felt their pain and sadness at the news that Thorin had just told them. However, it got her more excited in what was going on, to gather a meeting with other dwarves lords meant it was something big.
She watches as Bilbo comes up behind Thorin "You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked, Eleanor looks at her brother and could see the wonder in his eyes, but also hesitation. She knew from that moment that Bilbo will be leaving the shire with Gandalf and the dwarves; if he was going so was she.
Eleanor was going to be his protector out in the wild, in truth she might not had a lot of fights with Orc's and Warg's but how hard could it be?
All she had to do was give into her animal.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf said. Bilbo goes to bring a candle as Gandalf spread a piece of paper out on the table, it was a map. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak" Bilbo leans over the table with the candle in his hand.
"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo read. Eleanor shot up, her eyes were widen in surprise, how could she of been so stupid. . . Of course the mountain was their quest. The biggest clue she had for answers was the dwarf king himself.
"Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it's time" Gloin spoke up.
Oin leaned forward and spoke "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."
Thorin could help but smirk a little as Bilbo's eye widen "What beast?" He questioned or more like stuttered out. There was no way this hobbit was coming on my journey if the mention of a dragon scares him.
"Well, that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible. Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age" Bofur explained but he didn't stop there "Air-borne fire breather. Teeth like razors, claws like meathooks. Extremely fond of precious metal. . ." He trails off.
Eleanor rolled her eyes at the dwarf description, they both knew what a dragon was. They weren't that stupid, just because they lived in a hole in the ground in a peaceful place, doesn't mean they had no clue of the world out of the Shire.
"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo snaps at the dwarf.
All of a sudden the youngest dwarf Ori stood up "I'm not afraid!" He declared "I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie." At his words several shout out in cheer. Before Ori was quickly pulled back to his sit by his brother Dori.
"This task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest" Balin sighed stating the truth, which lead to an argument through out the company.
"We may be few in numbers but we are fighters" Fili spoke with pride "All of us, down to the last dwarf" He says hitting the table.
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Kili said, pointing to the old wizard.
Eleanor tilts her head to the side, she tried her very best to hold in a snort. She knew Gandalf was an amazing wizard but kill a dragon was a bit out of his depth. She let out a little laugh as the wizard chocked on his pipe; this confirms that he hadn't killed a dragon.
Still the dwarves continued to asked the poor man. The noise in the room risen as more dwarves join in, until everyone apart from Thorin and Bilbo were questioning the wizard. The dwarf king rolled his eyes and let out a breath, he knew the wizard hadn't killed one and the shouting of the company where getting them no where.
"Shazara!" Thorin yells. Everyone sits in their seats looking at Thorin in silence. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors 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 unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" Thorin sits down as all the dwarves cheer.
Balin shake his head in defeat "You forget the front gate is sealed" The dwarves grow silent as the old dwarf spoke "There is no way into the mountain"
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf said as he pulls a key out of his robes. Thorin looks at it in wonder. He couldn't believe his eyes, it was a key from his home.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked, leaning forward.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now" Gandalf said, handing the key over to Thorin, who looks at it in disbelief, this was really happening.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili said, Eleanor rolled her eyes at his words. Of course there was a door that is what keys are for.
Gandalf points to the map with the stem of his pipe "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf said.
"There's another way in." Kili said with a large smile, he could finally get to see the home of his family.
"Well if we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed" Gandalf sighed "The answer lies hidden in the map. I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in middle-earth who can" He stares at Thorin for a moment before continuing "The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and a small amount of courage. But if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done."
The dwarves all held hope in their eyes "That's why we need a burglar" Ori commented.
"Hmm, a good one" Bilbo muttered "A expert, I'd imagine" Eleanor giggles at her brother. . . Oh my dear Bilbo, your in for a shock.
"And are you?" Gloin asked.
All the attention turned on Bilbo "Am I what?" He asked confused.
Oin laughed "He said he's an expert!" He exclaimed.
"M-e" He stuttered out "No, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life"
Balin sighed "I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins" He said "He's hardly burglar material" That's a good point but most of the company weren't warrior material, still Thorin didn't want the hobbit coming.
"Aye the wild is no place for gently folk, who can neither fight nor fend for themselves" Dwalin agreed. The hobbit nodded his head in agreement with the comments, once again the company began to argue amongst each other.
Eleanor looks over to the wizard you could tell he was getting angry, power radiated off him. She let out a whimper as a darkness filled the room "Enough! If I say Bilbo is a burglar then a burglar he is" He bellowed then calmed down a little "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet" He informed them, the look of anger now vanished from his face "In fact, they can pass unseen by most, if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the sent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage" The wizard turns to Thorin "You asked me to find a fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr Baggins. There's a lot more to him then appearances suggests, and he's got a great deal more to offer then any of you know, himself included" Gandalf paused for a second "You must trust me on this"
Thorin thought it over for a second before nodding "Very well" He spoke up "We'll do it your way" Thorin turns to Balin "Give him the contract" He ordered ignoring the hobbits protesting.
Thorin watches as the wizard goes over to the cat and pets her head, he could of swore he saw the old man speak to it, shaking his head he turns his attention back to the hobbit, who was reading the contract. He sighs and ran his hands over his face. . . This was going to be a long night.