Chapter 4
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." –Mark Twain
"What are you doing in here, lass?" Kili lightly frowned at Nina. She awkwardly put her towel-weapon down and straightened herself to look in the direction of the dwarf she now remembered from the book. He was a Durin prince. He would die at the end of all this.
"I was attempting to wash myself up…" She huffed. Kili gave a hearty laugh, no doubt influenced by the ale he had been drinking prior to the incident.
"Well you'll miss supper if you linger in here miss…what is your name?"
"Nina," She sighed. Kili smiled.
"An unusual name, Miss Nina. Come on then, there'll be nothing left to eat if we don't get back."
Kili took her by the arm gently and brought her back to the others, where she noticed the noise had become considerably louder than when it was just her, Dwalin and Bilbo. By the sound of Bilbo's vain attempts to restore order Nina knew the whole company must have come.
"Fili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori…Ori." Gandalf counted off frantically. "Where's your brother, Fili?" He inquired at the blonde dwarf, who was currently struggling to roll a barrel of ale into the small dining area. Fili looked up with a bright smile.
"I think he's gone off to fetch some more ale for us," Fili answered cheerfully. Gandalf sighed lightheartedly—perhaps these dwarves had had enough ale already. "I do believe we are one dwarf short, though." Gandalf huffed to himself, frowning at the count.
"He's late, is all. He travelled north to a meeting of our kin. He will come." Dwalin answered Gandalf, his voice slurred a bit no doubt from the tankard of ale he kept raising to his lips.
"Look what I found!" A familiar young voice called out merrily to any of them that would listen. Gandalf turned his head to see the young Kili striding up to them with a cowering, much smaller figure behind him. Gandalf didn't miss the protective, concerned expression Dwalin got when Kili and his mystery guest arrived.
"Ah, and who might you be?" Gandalf smiled warmly down at the figure, trying to out whoever they were at ease.
"Her name is Nina, and she's with me." Dwalin grunted in reply to Gandalf's question.
"I see," Gandalf muttered. "Come now then, Nina, no one here is a threat to you. Tell me how you have come to dwell in our company this evening."
"I um…" Nina stammered. Now that Gandalf could look at her, he saw that she was small in stature, but not exactly weightless from her looks. She had golden hair, like the sun, and her eyes were a deep, dark blue. And yet there was an odd sort of pale film shielding the pure color. "I got very lost, and Dwalin found me in the woods." She said, not meeting his gaze.
"I see," Gandalf nodded. "We can talk about that later. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the Grey." He gave a slight bow, and Nina smiled, relieved.
"Yes, we need to talk later Gandalf." She breathed in relief. Gandalf smiled, then turned his attention on Dori, who seemed to be taking drink orders.
She had found Gandalf. Nina felt the weight of a cinder block lift off of her shoulders, and she allowed herself to smile genuinely for the first time since she had been dumped into this god forsaken place.
"So, how do you get around?" Ori was currently asking her. He didn't seem like a traditional dwarf, with his soft and polite voice that Nina had to strain to hear. His hands were covered in knitted mittens, which she found out when he took her hand to lead her to the table where they were all eating.
"Where I come from, the area was small and I could memorize my surroundings enough to get around well. I guess now I have to be assisted and feel my way around." She explained politely to the sweet dwarf. He chuckled shyly.
"Well if you need anything, all of us would be willing to help you." Ori smiled warmly. Nina smiled, hearing his own smile in his words.
"Who wants an ale? There you go." Fili shouted above the deafening ruckus of the dwarves, walking on the table. She could hear his stomping on the table.
"Get off my food!" Kili whacked his leg from across the table. The outbursts were unyielding and never ceased, not until someone bellowed:
"One, two, three!" And all was silent. Nina looked around in vain, frowning, and a small bit of panic bubbled up inside of her. What happened?
"What's happening?" She squealed softly before she could think. The only response she got was a loud, incredibly disgusting belch. The dwarves immediately started screaming and cheering again, and Nina let go a sigh of exasperation. These dwarves were like middle school boys in the cafeteria.
"Well, I'm ready for a smoke," One of the dwarves grunted, and before long all of them had left the table. Nina stayed, sitting and picking through her plate.
"You didn't drink even a drop of ale," Kili said, carelessly slamming an ale on the table. Nina looked up to the source of his voice.
"I'm not old enough to drink," She mumbled, quite exhausted.
"Not old enough?" Kili gasped, clearly genuinely shocked as he sat beside her. Nina suppressed a smirk.
"Where I come from we have a certain age you have to be in order to drink, but I am too young."
"Well you're not there now," Kili reasoned with a mischievous smirk, causing a pang of homesickness to bubble up in her stomach. "Go on. Have a taste of it."
"Why not," She mumbled to herself, feeling for a minute before settling her hands firmly on the large tankard. She lifted it carefully to her lips, and dipped it back to take in some of the liquid. It was sweet, almost, and yet it definitely had a bit of a kick to it that caused her face to scrunch up.
"Well? See, now you know what you've been missin'." Kili chuckled at her expression. Soon enough though, he broke into a hearty laugh as she turned to face him. She frowned in confusion.
"Why are you laughing at me?"
"You've got a bit of a thing there…" Kili chuckled awkwardly. Nina flinched slightly when his warm, rather large fingers brushed her upper lip, brushing off the foamy mustache she had gotten from the ale. "There you go." He laughed.
"Oh, well that's embarrassing." Nina groaned lightly, giving her face a good, ungraceful wipe. Kili laughed again, seemingly the most lighthearted dwarf she had talked to. It made sense to her, that he would be the happiest dwarf, since he was the youngest if she had read the Hobbit correctly. Then again she hadn't talked to Fili yet.
"Here you go, Ori, give it to me." They heard Fili saying from in the corridor. Kili jumped up from his seat abruptly.
"Oh we haven't done this since we were wee lads in Ered Luin!" Kili exclaimed to himself as he jumped up from his chair to join his brother. Nina gasped at the sudden movements, and felt her way out of the room to follow him.
"Ooh d'hear that, lads?" He says we'll blunt the knives!" The very familiar voice of Bofur was teasing. Once she heard the beat starting to pick up, Nina knew exactly what was coming next. The song.
Blunt the knives, bend the forks
Smash the bottles and burn the corks
Chip the glasses and crack the plaaaates
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
They tossed the plates and dishes around, cleaning and carrying on merrily, and Nina was surprised to find herself laughing along with them. The song continued, and soon Nina was clapping along with them.
Cut the cloth and tread on the fat
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat
Pour the milk on the pantry floor
Splash the wine on every door
Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you've finished, if any are whole
Send them down the hall to roll
Bofur played on his flute, and everyone piled on the dishes, making them clean. Nina imagined it would have been quite a spectacle if she had seen it.
THAT'S WHAT BILBO BAGGINS HATES!
There was a loud, foreboding knock on the door that silenced everyone and put an abrupt end to the song.
"He is here," Gandalf mumbled soberly. Nina frowned. Who were they missing? She listened from her place against the wall as the dwarves orderly gathered to the front door as Bilbo opened it. The new guest stomped his way in, and without sight Nina still could sense his authority over the others. She did a quick mental count of everyone she had encountered and realized Thorin had not been among them. This was Thorin Oakenshield.
"So, this is the hobbit." He said after a quiet exchange with Gandalf at the door. Nina raised her eyebrows in surprise at his deep, commanding voice. She had always imagined a blunt, loud dwarf to be Thorin Oakenshield, but this dwarf had the commanding tone needed while yet sounding soft at the same time.
"Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin sneered sarcastically, circling the hobbit like a hawk. Bilbo gulped, rocking back on his heels nervously. Nina felt pity for the hobbit, she could just feel his embarassment.
"Pardon me?"
"Axe or sword?" Thorin prompted impatiently.
"Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo muttered uneasily as Thorin stared him down.
"Thought as much." Thorin shrugged, the twelve other dwarves watched him readily. "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." They all laughed heartily.
"Why would you say that?" A small, female voice piped up. Bilbo looked up to see the blind woman stagger through the dwarves, who parted for her, and stand before Thorin staring at where his voice had come from.
"Who are you?" Thorin grunted with contempt. Bilbo felt worried for her, but she seemed to be unafraid. Maybe it was because she couldn't see his intimidating scowl.
"Bilbo has been very stressed out, and everyone has been ruining his home. Cut him some slack!" She exclaimed, waving her arms about weirdly as she spoke. Dwalin stepped between her and Thorin before Thorin could say anything.
"I found her on the road, alone and lost. She doesn't remember anything." Dwalin filled him in gruffly. Thorin glared at his friend. "Thorin, she's a blind, confused girl. Let her be for now, I will talk to her." He whispered the last part. Thorin nodded reluctantly.
"My dear Lady Nina, do you think you could possibly spare a moment for me?" Gandalf interrupted the stare-down between Nina and Thorin, shuffling his feet as he narrowly avoided the chandelier. Bilbo cringed. This company was too destructive of his quaint home!
"Sure," Nina nodded, seeming to relax when she heard Gandalf's kind voice again. She allowed him to take her arm and lead her to the sitting room a little ways from the company, so that none could hear them. Thorin then promptly began greeting his fellow dwarves, smiling brightly and embracing his nephews, Fili and Kili. Bilbo had learned from Fili that the two were nephews of Thorin.
"Come, what news from the Iron Hills?" Dwalin was asking him as they all moved to the dining room from before, Bilbo hurrying to produce some kind of food for the rude dwarf before he attacked the poor hobbit. If there was any left.
"So, Lady Nina, may I ask how exactly you came to be in Mister Dwalin's company?" Gandalf inquired gently, with a hint of suspicion. Something told Nina that Gandalf saw right through her story of being lost.
"Something happened, Gandalf. I don't know what is happening, so I had to tell Dwalin that I was lost. I didn't know who to trust or what to do." Nina explained quickly. Gandalf nodded thoughtfully.
"And what is it that you think happened, Lady Nina?" He asked more pensively.
"I'm not from this world, Gandalf. There are no wizards, no dwarves, no hobbits, no Middle-Earth!" She panicked. Nina started hyperventilating, something she seemed to do when she was freaked out—something that seemed to be happening a lot nowadays.
"Lady Nina, please!" Gandalf raised his voice, startling Nina into silence. "I cannot help you if you do not tell me everything there is to know."
"I come from Virginia," Nina started with a deep breath. "In the United States of America. On a planet called Earth?" She tried, only getting a confused grunt from Gandalf as a reply. Her heart sank. "Oh, what's the use?!"
"Please, I must know all of it." He pushed her gently.
"There was a hurricane, or I guess it was the aftermath of a hurricane, and I was caught in it. There was a tree…" She shook her head, still wondering how she had seen that tree. "It hit me. The next thing I knew I was stuck in this Middle-Earth place. Gandalf, you have to get me back home." Nina finished stressfully. Gandalf sighed heavily.
"I do not know that that is in my power, I'm afraid." Nina made a small whimpering noise. "But I think I know someone who can get you back." He added hopefully. Nina felt joy, relief, and exhaustion all bubble up and overwhelm her. She could get home and see her family. "However be warned, my dear. If you have somehow been brought to our world by something beyond you or I's power, perhaps it has been for a reason unbeknownst to us?" He continued thoughtfully. Nina snorted.
"There's no reason why I should be here, Gandalf. I just need to get back."
"Get back where?" Bilbo peeped from where he leaned against the doorframe. Gandalf smiled warmly.
"Ah, Bilbo, I see you have decided to join us."
"Where are you trying to get back to?" Bilbo asked again politely after nodding to Gandalf.
"I need to get back home," Nina answered shakily, feeling her throat swell up and tears threatening her eyes. "I don't know how."
"Perhaps you could tell Thorin that I wish to speak with him, Bilbo, my dear fellow." Gandalf suggested, shooting him a meaningful look. Bilbo nodded and hurried off, no doubt dreading the task of speaking to Thorin Oakenshield. Nina sighed, swiping the tears from her cheeks and stared off for what seemed like hours before heavy footsteps stomped into the room, followed by twelve other pairs.
"What is it?" Thorin's unmistakable voice addressed Gandalf coolly. Gandalf sighed, obviously not looking forward to the stubborn dwarf's reaction.
"I think we need to keep Lady Nina with us for just a little while. I do not think it would be wise to leave her alone in the Shire." Gandalf resolved in a low, serious tone. Nina could feel Thorin's anger.
"No."
"Thorin, please, the girl is lost, and her situation is quite…unusual. I think it'd be better if we kept her with us where she'd be safe for the time being." Gandalf reasoned. Nina looked up to the source of their voices hopefully. She hated Thorin, but if staying with him meant Gandalf would help her then she would do it.
"What do you mean by unusual?" Thorin eyed the wizard skeptically, shortly after sending a glare Nina's way.
"Perhaps it is best you simply trust me on this, Thorin." Gandalf advised soberly. "You have enough to worry yourself over."
"How long do you plan on keeping the girl?" Thorin growled impatiently.
"As long as needed, I am not yet sure if my plan could work."
"What plan?"
"Leave it to me, Thorin!" Gandalf's old voice boomed through the small house. Nina flinched at its intensity.
"She will be a burden, and I will not have my men distracted or hurt because of her." Thorin argued. Gandalf sighed.
"She will not be a burden, I will care for her if need be. However I do think there is more to this young lady than we all seem to think." Gandalf hinted. Nina furrowed her eyebrows, frowning. What kind of warrior could she be? She'd never fought a day in her life.
"Very well, have it your way." Thorin reluctantly agreed. Nina couldn't help the small smile of relief that spread across her face, though it quickly fell as Thorin approached her. He knelt down to reach her level where she sat. "Make no mistake, girl, I am not responsible for your safety. You are not to slow us down, not even by a day. Am I understood?" He spat. Nina gulped in fear and nodded.
"Agreed." She tried to gain a strong voice.
"We leave at dawn, make sure your girl is up." Thorin grunted to Gandalf, promptly leaving the room and taking the dwarves with him.
"Get some sleep, Lady Nina. Tomorrow will be quite a day for you, and there will be much adjusting for you." Gandalf chuckled, acting as if Thorin hadn't just threatened her and leaving her to the quiet crackling of the fire and distant singing. Nina did not leave the room the rest of the night, listening as the dwarves and Gandalf discussed their mission to Erebor and Bilbo being offered a contract. She vaguely reminded herself that they didn't want her to know about their quest, so she decided that she would play dumb in their presence.
Far over, the Misty Mountains cold…
Great. Nina sighed as she curled herself up in a ball on the floor next to the fire, pulling a blanket from the chair behind her onto her body.
To dungeons deep, and caverns old…
She sighed again, a bit annoyed that she was going to have to go on Thorin's quest for at least a little while. Until Gandalf figured things out. How long would that be?
We must away, ere break of day…
She felt her eyelids grow heavy as she realized she was, in fact, very tired from the day's events. Nina finally let her eyes shut, and drifted off to the tune of the song that would soon define her whether she knew it or not.
To find our long-forgotten gold.
Author's Note:
Oooooh! Well I liked the ending, soooo victory! If you haven't already noticed, I didn't update yesterday when I was supposed to. It's because I have had an emotionally stressful week with my close friend, and it has only gotten a little bit better :/ so I'm sorry the update was a day late.