Chapter 3
"He is here." Gandalf whispered. Bilbo and Gandalf headed for the door while the rest of us followed into the entryway. I was off in the corner at the front near Fili and Kili. Fili smiled at me while Kili just gave me a big grin. The door creaked open and there and Bilbo's porch was Thorin Oakenshield. He was tall for a dwarf, only a few inches shorter than myself and I'm a good 5 feet. His long dark hair was streaked with gray and his overall visage was strong yet grim. "Gandalf." Thorin acknowledged with a deep voice.
Thorin stepped into Bilbo's home while also taking of his traveling cloak. "I thought you said this place would be easy find. I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all if hadn't been for that mark on the door." I snorted quietly at his comment. Following an exiled dwarf king, to a dragon infested mountain might I add, who can't even find his way to little hobbit's home. Not exactly giving be a whole lot of confidence so far. Apparently Kili heard my snort and nudged me to not say a word. I sighed before focusing back on what is being said.
"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago." I heard Bilbo say with a bit frustration in his voice. Thorin walked over to Fili and Kili, handing Kili his traveling cloak. He gave them both a fond smile, which they returned, before turning his attention back to the exasperated hobbit. Gandalf closed the door softly while looking down at Bilbo. "There is a mark. I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield." Thorin turned fully and put his hands behind his back. "So...this is the hobbit. Tell me Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin was circling Bilbo like a wolf stalking a sheep. Bilbo hd confused expression to Thorin's question. "Pardon me?" He asked. "Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin continued with his questioning while walking around Bilbo before stopping in front of him once more.
"Well, I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know. But I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo answered snarkily. Thorin only smiles mockingly at his comment. "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thori comments turning his head slightly to the rest of the dwarves. They all laugh loudly while I just cross my arms using my right to elbow Kili. He looks at me in annoyance, but drops it when I give him a slight warning glare. Thorin follows the other doors into the dining room. Kili gesture for me to follow and as I past Bilbo I give a small smile of reassurance. All the dwarves sat down at the table taking out their pipes and refilling their drinks while Bilbo made up some stew for Thorin. There was no more room at the table so I just stood in the doorway next to Bofur. There was an amiable silence as Thorin began eating his supper, but now it was time to talk.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked Thorin paused in his eating now addressing everyone. "Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms." The company cheered happily to his news, but were silenced by Dwalin's question. "And what did the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" "They will not come. They this quest is ours and ours alone." was Thorin's solemn answer that was followed by groans from the company. I tilted my head at that. My father had spoken of Lord Dain only a few times and he didn't really knew much about him, but from what little he did know he said that Dain seemed to be an honorable dwarf. If that were the case why leave his kin high and dry like this? Thorin was taking a sip from his tankard when Bilbo walked into the room. "You're going on a quest." Everyone and myself looked toward the hobbit which seemed to make him blush slightly in embarrassment.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Bilbo hummed at Gandalf statement, but left the room to light a candle while Gandalf drew out a map from his cloak. Dwalin moved his plate to allow Gandalf room to show the map, which just so happened to be the Map of Erebor. "Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." The map had a design of erebor with runes on each side and a red dragon flying above. Bilbo returns with a lit candle and leans over to read the map. "The Lonely Mountain." I look up from the map to look at Gloin as he gathers everyone's attention. "Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say: it is time." Gloin announces emphatically. Gandalf lights his finger, burt almost sets his beard on fire when he forgets to blow it out. I smile at his antics before turning my attention to Oin on fire to light his pipe."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."
"Um… what beast?" I hear Bilbo question nervously behind me. We all turn towards the hobbit at his question. "Well that would reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airbourne firebreather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals." I'm sure Bofur would have gone on but Bilbo stopped him from elaborating. "Yes, I know what a dragon is." I then hear the sound of a chair being pushed back. I look to see one of the younger dwarves, Nori? No. Ori! I see Ori stand up swiftly. "I'm not afraid, I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksey!" He exclaimed. Nori pats him and looks at him with pride while his other brother, Dori I believe, yanks him back down to his seat. "Sit down!" He says warningly.
The company is beginning to stir anxiously once more, but Balin silences them. "The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, and we number just fourteen, and not fourteen of the best, nor brightest. The dwarves begin arguing once more. I look over them all, but my eyes linger on Kili. There was something different about him. His eyes didn't look like the dark brown he had before, but was now a honey brown almost golden. However, within a blink they were back to normal. I shake my head slightly. Apparently I consumed more ale than I thought, if I was having hallucinations. "Hey who are you calling dim?!" I hear Nori's shout, which brings me back to the situation at hand. Fili slams his hand on the table to get everyone's attention. "We may be few in number, but we're fighters. All of us. To the last dwarf!" Fili finishes slamming his hand again for emphasis. "And you forget we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Kili inputs excitedly.
I turned to Gandalf with a slight smirk. If that were the case he would have already done it by now. Gandalf just stutters which was obviously not the answer the dwarves wanted so they began to argue for the umpteenth time tonight. I roll my eyes at this, and they wonder why Balin calls them dim. Bilbo tries in vain to stop the argument from escalating further, but it was Thorin he got them to quiet down. "Enough!" They all sit down once more attention now on their king. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have spread. The dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for sixty 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 try to reclaim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor!" The others rise up cheering at his uplifting speech. I smile softly at him. Perhaps he wouldn't so bad as a king. "Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" Thorin shakes his fist slightly in encouragement.
Balin once more brings everyone back down to reality. "You forget the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain." "That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf says as he procures a large, ancient key from his robes. I narrow my eyes at the key. My father never mentioned anything about a key, but apparently it was the only thing that would allow us entry into the mountain. "How came you by this?" Thorin asked in awe. "It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, it is yours now." Gandalf then hands Thorin the key. "If there is a key, there must be a door!" Fili states the obvious. I roll my eyes once more. 'Men.' He seemed a bit slow on the up keep. Gandalf points to the map once more. "These runes speak of a hidden passage in the lower halls." "There's another way in!" Kili exclaims the obvious. I snort this time. Seemed the brains ran in the family.
"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." I lean off the wall at his statement. That wizard was up to something, but I have time to think more on it as he continued. "The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage." Gandalf looked to Bilbo with a knowing look before turning back towards the company. "But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori pointed out. Bilbo hums in agreement as he studies the map. "A good one too. An expert I'd imagine." I look at Bilbo and can't help the smile that spreads across my face due to his innocence. "And are you?" Glion asks mockingly as he leans in slightly. Bilbo looks behind thinking that he was talking to someone else before looking back at Gloin in confusion. "Am I what?"
"He says he's an expert. Hey!" Oin says and the others join him in his celebration. Whether or not he actually didn't hear what Bilbo said or if he just wanted to tease him, is something I will never know, but I suppose it doesn't really matter at his point. Bilbo didn't really seem like the adventuring type, but who was I to judge. "-I'm not a burlar I've never stolen a thing in my life!" Bilbo's exclamation brought me back to the current conversation. "I'm afraid I'd have to agree with Mister Baggins. He's not exactly burglar material." Balin says in his wise voice. Bilbo nodded and hummed his agreement at Balin's statement. "Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin states as he looks at Bilbo, but then his gaze switches to me. I narrow my eyes with a glare and decide to flip him off like the lady I am. This both shocks and angers him, but he finally removes his gaze from me. 'Not fend for myself, indeed.'
The dwarves are arguing once again. I lean back against the wall with my arms crossed over my chest and just rolled my eyes for what felt like the hundredth time tonight. "Enough if I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is!" Gandalf stands and as he speaks the room dims and his voice echoes throughout the house. As he takes in a small breathe the room is filled with warm light once more and Gandalf's once imposing and intimidating manner melts back to his normal kind hearted self. "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet! In fact, they can go 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." Gandalf wasn't wrong about that. If what he says is true, and I doubt it would be otherwise, then Bilbo could be the factor we've been needing to complete this seemingly impossible quest. " you asked me to find the fourteenth member and I have chosen Mister Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this." Gandalf sits back down scanning the room making his opinion known on his standing with Bilbo's capability as a burglar.
Thorin sighs and nods in acceptance. "Very well. We will do it your way." Bilbo frantically tries change his mind, but is only ignored by the dwarf prince. "Give him the contract." Thorin looks at Balin as he says this while also holding up one hand to silence any protests from the other dwarves. Balin stands up pulling out a contract and handing out to Bilbo who refuses to take it. "It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth." Thorin takes the contract and shoves it to Bilbo making him take it. "Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo asks. He steps away into the hall groaning at the lengthy contract.
I see Thorin lean towards Gandalf and catch their short conversation. "I cannot guarantee his safety." Thorin states and Gandalf nods. "Understood." He states confidently. "Nor will I be responsible for his fate." Gandalf looks at THorin and for the first time actually seems scared. "Agreed." He says reluctantly.
"Terms: cash on delivery, up to, but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit, if any. Seems fair." Gandalf smiles at his comment. " Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including, but not limited to - lacerations? Evisceration? Incineration?" Bilbo looks up at the company with a disbelieving look. "Oh aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur oh so helpfully points out. I step out of the corner and closer to Bilbo who was looking a little pale.
I hear Balin lean over to look at Bilbo. "You alright laddie?" Bilbo leans forward then straightens again taking in deep breaths. "Yeah, just feel a bit faint." Bofur stands up and is beside me addressing Bilbo once more. "Think furnace with wings." I glare at him in warning, but that doesn't deter him from continuing. "Flash of light, searing pain, then - POOF! You're nothing more than a pile of ash!" I hit him in the chest slightly which finally shuts him up and then turn my attention back to Bilbo. "Bilbo are you alright, you're a bit pale." I ask in concern for the poor hobbit. Bilbo seems to regain his composure. "Nope." But then he promptly faints. I quickly run to him making sure he was alright before giving Bofur a glare once more. "That was very helpful Bofur." I state sarcastically. Gandalf stands up and walks to me and BIlbo picking him up with little help."Thank you my dear. I'll take it from here." He smiles and then heads into the parlour. And who might you be?" I hear the gruff voice of Thorin from behind me. I sigh dreading this conversation, but turn around to look him in the eye.
"I am Inari Daughter of Anita and from the Forodwaith. I have come to join your company in this quest." I state never stuttering. He may be intimidating, but I was not afraid of him. I guess that was the dwarf in me showing. Thorin looks down at me with a scowl, but nods none the less. "From Forodwaith you say? That is no short journey." He states wanting me to give him for information. He very obviously didn't trust me. "Indeed, I have been travelling for the past two years upon my majority day. I have been trained in combat to hold my own and I can hunt as well as track." Thorin narrows his eyes his mistrust becoming more prevalent. "Why should I allow you along. You are a woman and out of duty my men would protect if you were endangered which could get them injured or killed. That is not a risk I'm willing to make." He turns away in dismissal believing that this conversation was over.
I step up next to him using my height to my advantage, but he still is far more threatening. "My father was once a dwarf of Erebor. He has dreamed of returning to the mountain, but he is not as young or as strong as he used to be and he has already fought in your name. He shouldn't have to face these horrors once more. I am a woman, but I am young and strong and have held my own on the road for the past two years. I can do this and I don't need you or any man in this company to fight my battles for me."
The dwarves who were murmuring before have now gone completely silent. Thorin was assessing me with his blue eyed gaze. I could read his emotions from his face but I could tell that he was at the very least considering my words. Finally he looks up at me once again. "You say your father was dwarf, yet you have no beard and are most likely the tallest dwarf I have ever encountered. Explain that." I sigh knowing that what I say next could very well knock out any chances I have in joining this quest. "
My father is a dwarf, but my mother was a daughter of man." The dwarves gasp and murmur once more, shocked at my revelation. Thorin looks like he is about to deny me, but I interrupt him before he gets the chance. "I know that think I can be trusted, but please I ask you to not deny me this just because of my heritage. You can not blame me for what I am and I want to help. My father has told me stories my whole life about Erebor, I have always dreamed of seeing it for myself and I want my father to live there once. Please allow me this. I'm not asking to be rewarded I just want to give back our home to those who deserve it." I finish my speech, hoping it will convince him to let me come.
The dwarves silently await Thorin's verdict. He glares at me for what feels like hours before finally sighing. "Very well. You may come, but there are conditions." I nodded an couldn't seem to contain my excited smile. "You will pull your own weight that includes, watches, hunting, so forth. You will not be a burden in any way and you will not distract any of my men. If you violate any of these even once you will leave immediately. Am I clear?" He asks with a growl. I glare back but nod an affirmative. He looks back and nods at Balin before leaving the dining room.
Balin approaches me and hands over a contract with a smile. I skim it before signing my name in curvy writing. Balin takes my contract and stuffs it back into his coat and then smiles at me. "Welcome to the company, Lady Inari."
A/N
Wow that took me a few days to write. Sorry that this is a little late. It was Homecoming week and I was just busy all week but now it should be back to normal. Please leave a comment and review. Until next time, bye.