I am so sorry to not have updated in so so long I've had some really bad family issues that have stopped everything even my University work :/ but I feel like I can finally write without it being complete boring drizzle, though I say that it's probably going to end up that way haha! Thank you all for staying with this story and I hope this satisfies your curiosities. Please enjoy!
Following all the dwarves to the door I stand slightly behind Bofur and watch as Gandalf opens the door revealing a handsome black haired dwarf who turned and gave Gandalf a small smile.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all if it had not been for that mark on the door." His deep baritone rolled around the room commanding all attention to him. Who on earth was this Dwarf? Seeing his wolf skinned cloak and proud manner as he stalked through the door I could only guess he was someone of high importance and he knew it.
"Mark? There is no mark on that door; it was painted a week ago!" Bilbo scurries forward around all the Dwarves to try to see the door before Gandalf shut it himself not letting the Hobbit view it. Oh Gandalf what have you done now?
"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." His smile was directed at both of them but I could see the Dwarf circle Bilbo like prey before an amused smirk made its way on his face.
"So, this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" He questioned while circling him once more, seeing Bilbo's flushed face I push through the Dwarves as gently as I could, there was no way I would let Bilbo get upset in his own home by a couple of strangers. Ooohh I can see why Gandalf said to be careful of my emotions I can already feel my anger simmering in my stomach.
Bilbo turns with him and stutters out: "Pardon me?" Frowning I go to step forward but feel two sets of hands on my arms, looking to my left and right I see Fili and Kili shaking their heads slightly and pull me back between them, I didn't even realise I was beside them.
"Axe or sword? What is your weapon of choice?"
"Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo's slightly confident demeanour fizzled out into confusion.
"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." All the other dwarves chuckle at this, feeling the two dwarves let go of me while they chuckle I turn and give them my best glare before storming over to Bilbo as the others disperse into the dining room once more missing the hurt look on the youngest Durin's face.
"Don't you listen to them Bilbo!" I whisper as I see his upset face. "They only know strength through muscles and brawn, they are not the type of people to see strength from loyalty or smarts, ignore his comments he has obviously got a stick so far up his arse its affecting his brain." He chuckled at my last comment, hearing that made me smile and I looped my arm through his as we walk towards the dining room. Hearing a slight huff I look behind me and see Gandalf slightly hunched over holding on to the top of the door looking slightly put out.
"Gandalf? Are you okay?" I ask while unlooping my arm from Bilbo's and rushing over to the Wizard.
"Yes my dear, I just feel I may have forgotten how rash Thorin could be, his quest depends on Bilbo if he does not have him then he will fail." Seeing his lined face covered in worry I hold his one hand in mine and squeeze gently.
"We will make it work, don't worry!" I convincingly smile up at him and see a twitch of his lips. "Now lets go show that arrogant Dwarf what our Hobbit is made out of!" A genuine smile spread across Gandalf's face as he stared down at me.
"If I didn't know your past my dear I would be sure that you were always a Dwarf! Now why don't you go get Thorin a bowl of stew and a tankard of ale while I will try and sort things out. And Marcy, try to be polite to him, I dread to think what words would spar between you both." He gestures me away with his hands as he goes towards the dining room, pouting slightly … I am nothing like that bloody Dwarf in there I stomp towards the kitchen to fill up his highness's bowl.
Huffing I grab both the full bowl, a spoon and a tankard full of ale and walk to the dining room, faced with fourteen eyes I try not to flush with being the centre of everyone's attention I place the food and drink in front of Thorin.
"Thank you." Surprised at his words I nod my head slightly and go to stand beside Bilbo who was in the door way.
"What do the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asks, I am guessing I have missed a bit of the conversation while getting Thorin his meal.
"They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone." Thorin states while eating his stew. All the dwarves start to mumble between themselves, I look over to Balin and see him send me a small smile, returning it I look at the other dwarves and see the disappointment in their faces. This news was not good I assume.
"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asks while stepping forward, keeping a close eye on Thorin I shadow Bilbo, I am not so sure I trust him.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Bilbo rushes off to get a candle as Gandalf brings out an old yellowed map and spreads it over the table; Bilbo comes back and places the lit candle on the table by the map.
"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." Listening to Gandalf's melodic voice I stand beside him and read out: "The Lonely Mountain".
Gloin's booming voice startles me as he states "Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time." Confused I tilt my head, time for what?
"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 carries on; okay this is even more confusing. So there is a 'beast'? And when the ravens fly to the mountain then this beast dies? Huh!?
"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo asks, looking gratefully at him, I am glad it's not just me out of the loop I was starting to feel slightly thick.
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age." Seeing our bemused faces, Bofur carries out matter-of-factly: "Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals—"
"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo interrupts. Feeling the blood drain from my face I gasp in a little air, seeing brown chocolate eyes seek me out I realise Kili must have heard me. Looking at Gandalf I glare slightly, the bloody old sod never told me there would be a DRAGON involved in this! Seeing his concerned glance up at me I am guessing he could feel my glare. Bloody wizard, I will be having words with him when this meeting thing is over.
"I'm not afraid" I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie." Ori confidently shouted, holding in a snort I chuckle slightly under my breath as I see Dori yank him back down into his seat telling him he would do no such thing. Smiling at the young Dwarf I look back at Bilbo and see his amused smile also as Balin speaks out.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest." He eyes a few of the other Dwarves and again I have to hide a smile as chaos reigns out around the table as other try and defend their honour and egos until Fili smacks his hand down on the table to quieten everyone, trying not to grin I see him rub the edge of his hand in his other. Obviously being brutish hurt him.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" He states but I notice he doesn't bang his hand down again. Kili joins on with his brother trying to help his cause.
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Grinning fully now I stare at the Wizard who was uncomfortable with the attention, ahhh sweet revenge!
"Oh, well, now, uh I-I-I wouldn't say that, I-" His stutters get cut off my Dori, bloody Dwarf spoiling my fun at Gandalf's expense.
"How many then?"
"Uh what?"
"Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!" And with that all chaos erupted around the table again, some defending Gandalf's honour and others questioning it. The wizard in question was just spluttering on his pipe, seeing my look he gave me a quick wink as he stopped when no more attention was on him. Sneaky bloody Wizard.
"SHAZARA!" Jumping about a foot in the air when Thorin erupted and stood up, is everyone keen on giving me heart attacks today? "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look to the East, wondering, assessing, weighing the risk. Perhaps the great 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!" All the Dwarves cheer and wave their tankards in the air, looking at Bilbo he sends me a confused look, this quest of theirs has a few loop holes.
Speaking of loop holes the ever reasonable Balin soon shuts them all up: "You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain." Nodding I agree with him until Gandalf pulls out a key.
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." If I hadn't said it once, I am going to say it again. Sneaky Wizard!
"How came you by this?" Thorin asks in wonder, looking at said Dwarf he looks shell shocked to say the least.
"it was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now." Obviously Gandalf, we all watch as he passes the key to Thorin as everyone stares on in wonder.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili states, more amused than ever I nod, he's got brains that one.
Gandalf points at some ruins on the map. "These ruins speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls."
Kili hits his brother lightly while grinning, trying to ignore a certain fluttering in my stomach at that smile I nearly miss his words: "There's another way in." Not being able to hold the small snort in I cover it up with a cough, I was mistaken they are both as dense as each other.
"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 skills 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 I believe if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done." Gandalf finishes his speech with a smug smile.
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori explains to Nori, though his brother looks slightly annoyed as he already knew this.
"A good one, too. An expert I imagine." Bilbo cuts in with another look at the map, oh Bilbo I don't think he knows what Gandalf has in store for him.
"And are you?" I glare at Gloin, no need to push poor Bilbo into a corner.
"Am I what?"
"He said he's an expert, hey hey!" Oin grinned at the others, smiling gently at the old dwarf poor Oin.
"Me? No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life!" Bilbo exclaims quickly stumbling over a few of the 'no's'.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggin's. He's hardly burglar material." Balin nods at the Hobbit regarding him with those blue eyes of his.
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." I thought this was a dig at me until I saw him only gazing at Bilbo, surely if anyone cannot look after themselves it would be me, right? Bilbo was not helping himself at all, instead he was actually nodding away and pointing at Dwalin to make a point.
And of course this brings the dwarves to argue … again. Sighing I rub my eyes, today has been a loooonggg day!
"ENOUGH! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar then a burglar he is." Gandalf grows huge and the lights all flicker and fade, slightly scared I back away down the table until I feel a hand stop me from moving on the middle of my back. Feeling tingles from the hand I knew who exactly it was, looking down slightly I see Kili looking up at me worriedly, trying to reassure him I smile slightly while Gandalf shrinks back down to his original size. Make note: Do not anger wizards!
"Hobbits 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 a Hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage." With this Gandalf turns towards Thorin, guessing the next part of his speech is just for him i try to ignore the lack of tingles up my back when Kili retracts his hand. " You asked me to find the fourteenth and fifteenth members of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins and Miss. Fiore. There is a lot more to him and her than appearance may suggest, and he has got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this." He smiles at the dwarf who returns it with a brooding look.
"Very well, we will do it your way." Shocked I tilt my head, it cannot be possibly that easy.
"No, no!" Bilbo steps forward shaking his head.
"Give him the contract." Balin hands Bilbo a long document explaining about expenses, time-required and funeral arrangements. Stopping myself in my tracks I realise something, Thorin only said 'him' nothing about me.
"And for Miss. Fiore? Shall she sign the same contract?" Gandalf asks as I step forward to stand beside him again. Thorin shifted so he was facing both me and the Wizard, meeting his ice cold eyes with a firm glare of my own I realise how similar they are to Fili's and how much his face matches both Fili and Kili's, maybe they are family too?
"What of you Miss Fiore, have you done much fighting?" His incredulous tone made me grit my teeth.
"Yes, hand to hand combat with men." I state, smiling smugly at his eyebrows rise.
"What does a female dwarf have any business like wrestling with Men?" Glancing at Gandalf I see him encouraging nod.
"I do not rely on others to protect me, I rather be able to protect myself than screaming like a damsel." I reply, seeing his nod I smile slightly at him.
"If you do not cause any trouble nor effect the company in any way I suppose I will let you come. I cannot offer you a fifteenth share though." His gruff voice grows slightly softer at the end.
"That is fine, I was not coming on this quest to earn a share of your wealth only ad-" Bilbo cuts me off.
"If I agree to this she can claim half of my share of the gold." Surprised I turn to Bilbo.
"Bilbo you do not have to do that for me!"
"Hobbit's do not have an absolute need for gold Marcy, it is fine!" Smiling gratefully at the Hobbit I go over and hug him gently and whisper my thanks in his ear. Looking at the contract I quickly whip it out of the Hobbit's hands while the dwarves speak to one another.
"Now let us look properly at this document Mister Baggins." I tease him and lay it on a small table so we can both read it together. All was going quite well until we got to the dragon bit.
"Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of the 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 … evisveration … incineration?!" I glance at Bilbo worriedly as he seemed to turn whiter and whiter as he read more and more.
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur replies to him cheerfully. Glaring at the dwarf I make a motion with my hand from behind Bilbo trying to get him to stop.
"You alright Laddie?" I look once more at Bilbo when Balin asks him that, he was bent over and whistling air through his teeth.
"Uh .. yeah … Feel a bit faint." Even more worried I glance around for a chair to get him to sit in but can't find one.
"Think furnace with wings." Glaring more heavily at the Dwarf he doesn't seem to notice as he stands up trying I think to be helpful.
"Air, I-I-I-I- need air!"
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash." Yep I am definitely going to kill that Dwarf as I see Bilbo breathing heavily. Come on Bilbo, prove to them you are stronger than they think you are!
"Hmm. Nope." He falls to the floor in what I must say is an impressive thump for someone his size.
"Bilbo!" I quickly kneel beside him as Gandalf tells Bofur off, bloody dwarves! Feeling Bilbo's forehead he seems a little cool, looking up I see the Dwarves with a vary of expressions: some of amusement, some of worry and some of disdain. Glaring I move so I am by Bilbo's head and slip my hands and arms underneath his armpits, attempting to lift him was not going to plan as he was a complete dead weight and heavier than I first thought.
"Are you all going to stand their gaping at him, or is someone going to help me!" I snarl at them while trying to control the anger I felt at them, for goodness sake they couldn't leave him on the floor. Hearing a quick scuffle of feet I look up and meet Kili's eyes, breathing a slight sigh of relief he would definitely be able to help me with Bilbo after carrying all those cupboards. He lifted up his legs as we both walked towards one of Bilbo's living rooms, sitting him down on a comfy chair I frown, I hope he wakes up soon.
"Thank you Kili." I whisper to him as he stood beside me, seeing his cheeky grin I try and hide me returning smile.
"Anything for you, Miss Fiore." Blushing gently at his soft tone I shake my head.
"It's just Marcy." His grin widens as he bows once more and takes my hand in his.
"At your service, Just Marcy." I chuckle as he kisses my knuckles and once again ignore those sparks that tickled my fingers and rolled up my arm. Standing straight again he was much closer than before, I could feel that pull again in the centre of my chest tugging me towards the dwarf in front of me.
"I have to admit Marcy, I am surprised my Uncle is letting you come on this quest." Looking at him confused, who was his uncle? Thorin?
"Why is that?" I ask while he steps slightly closer to me making me lose my breath slightly.
"A beauty such as you is bound to cause some sort of trouble, you will have men, dwarves and elves falling for you." Blushing heavily I push a lock of hair behind my ears.
"I doubt that very much Kili." Glancing at Bilbo I see he is still out cold. "I am going to get some tea for Bilbo; he'll want something warm when he wakes up." I stutter when I see Kili's eyes flicker down to my lips and then back up to my eyes. That tugging increased and I gasp softly at the feeling, what on earth is wrong with me?
"Okay." He whispers but makes no attempt to move away from me, I could actually feel the warmth coming off him he was that close. Swallowing slightly I look away from those hypnotic eyes breaking the spell he had on me; I quickly darted away into the kitchen and start boiling the water for Bilbo's tea. What on earth was that?
SOOOO what did ya'll think? I know it was a bit of a long boring chapter but it had to be done :) What did you think of the slight connection at the end? Huh, Huh?
REIVEW MY DARLINGS PLEASE!