Chapter Five

Both Welcome & Unwelcome Guests

It did not take her long to do her shopping, for instead of standing around and speaking with her neighbours, she just did her shopping and with the help of a runner, she took her purchases home. Then went straight to cooking. Since the Gray Wizard hadn't bothered to inform her of the time to expect her company, she started preparing for both supper and dinner. She well knew that most other races did not eat as frequently as Hobbits did, but she assumed that after much travel, they would be hungry. Even if she hadn't meandered around the shops, it was impossible to not overhear the gossip that there were Dwarves in the Shire, though only 2 or 3 were seen at a time. Why she'd even seen one a few nights before in the Green Dragon having a half-pint. She expected these were the company she was going to receive.

After doing the finishing touches to the food, she slipped off to the washroom and got quickly cleaned up; including a quick shave that she usually only did in the morning. Both of her parents had warned her that she may grow a beard, since female dwarves had them, yet it had only started in the past few years. Neither parent had seen it.

She heard a pounding on her door, and as she rushed to it, she straightened her vest and smoothed down her trousers, hoping they wouldn't take offence that a woman would dare to wear such a thing. Pulling the door open with tug, "Good evening," giving a bow. "Mistress Baggins at your service." It was the dwarf she'd seen the other night.

"Dwalin, at yours." He walked straight in.

"Master Dwalin, before you go further, I ask all major weapons be left on the table by the door and shoes off please. The wood would not stand up to your boots. I expect that you will keep smaller weapons, like the dagger and small axe at your waist with you and will not ask you remove them, but my home will not be a battle ground." She was a little intimidated by his sheer size, but she was the head of her clan and this was her home. He would not scare her, even if he looked frightening.

He scowled down at her, but then started to comply, so she just graced him with a smile. "Thank you, do you think your companions are far behind you good sir? I have prepared supper, however, I would rather start it after everyone has arrived. If you think they will be a little while, I will lead you to the drawing room, where I have set up tea." She was determined that her guests would be very welcome.

He grunted, then finished kicking off his boots, "They'll trickle in Mistress, but they shouldn't be too far behind me."

Even as he spoke there was another knock behind her, and she pulled the door open too great the next, "Welcome to Bag End, Mistress Iris Baggins at your service." This dwarf was older and shorter than the first, yet seemed much more refined.

"Balin, son of Fundin, at yours Mistress," he bowed to her, then looked over her shoulder. "Ah, brother, it's good to see you." He bypassed her and clasped Dwalin's arms, and instead of embracing as she expected, they knocked their heads together, giving a large crashing sound.

"OH!" Her hand flying to her chest in surprise, she just stared at the two of them for a moment, before pulling herself together, reminding herself not to show her fear. "Master Balin, I am requesting that all guests leave both their shoes and major weapons at the door please. Though daggers and short axes are welcome." She then looked at the larger of the two, "Master Dwalin, my I impose upon you to get the door for me, while I finish preparations for tonight's gathering? And if perhaps a few strapping lads appear, I could use some help moving the large table to the dining room. I'm afraid I only informed of our gathering this morning and I have had to rush to get ready." She gave them both a smile.

"I will little Mistress, you said there was tea though?"

"Of course, it is only in the next room," she leads the way through the rounded halls and into a warm sitting room with a warm fire already built. Two large teapots sat in cozies, with several cups surrounding them, a tray of sandwiches and cookies beside it all, on the end table. "Please, enjoy, settle, and get warm as you please. My home is yours for the time of your stay."

As she slipped out of the room, she missed the look the two brothers exchanged.

It wasn't long before two younger looking dwarves entered her kitchen, introducing themselves and stating that they'd been sent to help her. With a grin, she handed both of them a couple of ginger cookies, and lead them down the hallway.

"I must express my gratitude that you are willing to assist me, young masters. I apologize for having to request that my guests do anything at all, but I was unprepared for your arrival. Master Gandalf did not arrive at my door until this morning. Would you fine gentlemen please assist in moving this table from the storage here and into the room adjoining the kitchen? It may be a bit of a tight squeeze, but we should all be able to fit around it."

In unison, "It will be our pleasure Mistress," the blonde winked at her, and the dark haired one gave a sweeping bow. Then in a show of strength that may have left her a bit breathless, the proceeded to do just that. It had taken six grown hobbit men to move the heavy table, with quite a bit of struggling, and they were moving it as if it weighed nothing.

"My thanks. When it is in place, please enjoy the tea with Masters Balin and Dwalin. I will set the table and lay out dinner while we wait for the rest of your company to arrive."

"Will there be more of these wonderful cookies Mistress Boggins?"

"It's Baggins good sir, and yes, as well as a few others for you to try." Not knowing that Dwalin had already made a good dent in the stash she'd lain out.

She flitted around the smail, gathering chairs up while the boys put the table in place, and once they completed their task, shooed them to the sitting room with their elders so she could finish her preparations.

She was almost finished when there came an awful clammier at the door, as if a naughty faunt was playing with the bell. As she peaked out of the kitchen, she had to fight back a bubble of laughter as it seemed the entire rest of the party tumbled in, with the largest of the group on top. The one of the bottom holding her bell. "Someone will be fixing that before we leave." Without waiting for a response, she turned back to her work, half listening as instructions were given and the sound of both weapons being put down and shoes taken off filled the hall.

Dwalin stood at the kitchen door, leaning on the wood, "Mistress, the leader of our company has yet to arrive, but since he isn't with the others, he is most likely a few hours behind. He would not be upset if we ate without him."

"Alright, I shall set a plate aside for him. Thank you for informing me. " She graced him with another smile and wiped her hands on her apron. "Then let dinner be served."

Stepping back into the hall, she tried to take in all of the new faces, "Please kind sirs, if you would like to follow me, I have prepared a grand feast for you all this evening." Directing them to the dining room, where both Fili and Kili were already clamoring into chairs on the side of the table and expertly putting food on their plates.

What then ensued was a very lively and very out of place party. One that hadn't been seen in the halls of Bag End since her coming of age by Hobbit standards. Oh how she wanted to fuss, but she'd welcomed these dwarves into her home.

She also had a feeling she should know some of these dwarves, as some of the names she heard sounded like those from her mothers and papas tales.

She did start to fret when dinner was over and they started tossing her plates around, all the while singing about things she hated. Yet, they never seemed to drop or break anything and one of the older dwarves with an axe stuck in his head of all things, was washing them quickly, but efficiently. In the end everything was either stacked nicely or put away. Even if her doilies had become dishrags.

As if it was timed, when they finished the cleaning, not allowing her to do any of the work herself, there was a heavy knock on the door. Of which Gandalf went ahead of her and answered it, without a by-your-leave. A tall dwarf was standing there, taking up almost as much room as Dwalin had originally, and he just walked in, without introduction.

"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."

She pushed her way past them all, "Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!"

"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Iris Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

The majestic looking dwarf stared down at her, ignoring all the looks the rest of his company was giving him, "So, this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

She glared right back, "It's Mistress, and not since I was a faunt."

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Oh he was starting to piss her off.

"Neither, daggers for a blade, but I have some fair skill at Conkers, if you must know. However, I fail to see how this is the most important set of questions you have for me at this time."

He handed his cloak off to Gandalf and tried to walk past her, shoes still on and weapon still strapped to his back, "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

If he'd been expecting a laugh, he didn't get one. Instead, he found a small hand on the middle of his chest, pushing him back. "Excuse me Oakenshield," she glared, "as the rest of your company has already complied, you will as well before taking one step further into my smail. Take your shoes off. Large weapons off. You will address me as Mistress in my home and otherwise until I give permission for you to use anything else. And dinner will be served to you once you have complied."

She then turned to Gandalf, "You will inform our illustrious leader of what I requested this morning, when you asked for my presence and Dwalin,"she glanced at him, "you saw where I placed his dinner, will you grab it while I gather drinks for us all?"

Without waiting for a response, most of the company laughing behind their hands, and Oakenshield sputtering, she stormed towards one of her back pantries to get a larger keg of ale. It was rare that she pulled out a barrel from this vintage, but she felt they all would need a strong drink before the night was threw. And if she also brought out a bottle of brandy as well, well, that was only for her to know.