"What brings Thorin Oakenshield and his wife to Bree?" Gandalf asked.
"We received word that my father had been seen wandering the Wilds near Dunland", Thorin answered. "We went looking and found no sign of him."
"We're not giving up our search for him", Clill added. "Just because rumors say he may be dead… we won't believe it."
"He lives", he nodded. "I'm sure of it."
Gandalf said nothing as he looked at the couple with an expression that offered very little hope.
"You're like the others", Thorin said. "You think he's dead."
"I was not at the battle of Moria", Gandalf said.
"We were", Clill said. "Thror… was slain."
"My father led a charge towards the Dimrill Gate", Thorin said. "He never returned. Thrain is gone, they told me. He is one of the fallen. But it'd be under that battle that we searched amongst the slain. We searched every body. My father was not among the dead."
The conversation went quiet as the barmaid served Gandalf some food. Thorin took another bite of the bread before looking up at him.
"My father came to see you before he went missing. What did you say to him?"
"I urged him to march upon Erebor", Gandalf answered. "To rally the seven armies of the Dwarves, to destroy the dragon and take back the Lonely Mountain. And I would say the same to you… take back your homeland."
"This is no chance meeting, is it?" Thorin asked as he took a drink from his mug.
"No, it is not. The Lonely Mountain troubles me, Thorin. That dragon has sat there long enough. Sooner or later, darker minds will turn to Erebor. I ran into some unsavory characters whilst traveling along the Greenway. They mistook me for a vagabond."
"I imagine they regretted that", Clill mumbled taking a bite of the cheese.
"One of them was carrying a message."
Thorin and Clill watched as Gandalf unrolled a piece of parchment, pushing it toward them. On it were black marks that neither of them could read.
"It is Black Speech", Gandalf explained. "A promise of payment."
"For what?" Thorin asked.
"Your head."
Clill and Thorin looked at Gandalf in shock. Who could possible offer a deal like that?
"Someone wants you dead", he said. "Thorin, you can wait no longer. You are the heir to the throne of Durin. Unite the armies of the Dwarves. Together you have the might and power to retake Erebor. Summon a meeting of the seven Dwarf families. Demand they stand by their oath."
The seven Dwarf armies swore that oath to the one that wields the king's jewel", Thorin explained. "The Arkenstone. It is the only thing that will unite them."
"In case anyone's forgotten, the jewel was stolen by Smaug", Clill looked down in disgust that they were bringing up the dragon's name.
"What if I were to help you reclaim it?" Gandalf asked.
"How?" Thorin eagerly asked. "The Arkenstone lays half a world away, buried beneath the feet of a fire breathing dragon."
"That is why we're going to need a burglar", he answered. "In the meantime, you must get some rest. The two of you have a long journey ahead of you if you are to summon the seven armies."
Gandalf finished his meal and turned to leave. Clill looked at Thorin.
"Do you really think he will help us?" she asked.
"My father trusted him before", Thorin said. "I have no reason not to trust him now."
The two finished their meal and retired for the night upstairs in the inn. Thorin blew out the candles as he and Clill got into the first bed they were able to sleep in for months.
"Are you alright?" Clill asked as she rested her head on Thorin's chest.
"Erebor…" he mumbled. "We will take back the mountain."
