Chapter Three

An hour later, they arrived at the Mall. "What is this place? Another kingdom? This place is huge!" said Nori. "No, Nori. Its called a mall. There is many shops inside where you can go shopping, ranging from clothes, books, furniture, and electronics. They sell everything in here." Tabitha replied as they parked. "I highly suggest you stay close with me. And Dwalin, you keep a close eye on Nori." said Tabitha. "Got it." said Dwalin. "What?" snapped Dwalin. "I've been informed by your brother of your past, and we're not going to have that here. I don't have enough money to bail out a dwarf from jail." said Tabitha.

And so Tabitha led the company inside the mall and they looked around in amazement. "I'm going to take you to a men's clothing store. But first I'm going to get your measurements." said Tabitha. "You're going to measure all of us? Wouldn't that take a while? You may need some help." said Oin. "I got help. I know a lady who works in the men's clothing store, and she will help me out." said Tabitha.

Soon, they arrived to the clothing store, and Tabitha told the Company to wait outside the store, while she went in to speak to her friend.

But no soon as she went inside, a group of teenage boys approach them, and began laughing at them. "Well, well! Look whom we got here! Guys, the next Con convention isn't until tomorrow. You come to the wrong place! Get your old bearded asses out of MY MALL!" snapped the first teenage boy with spiked blue hair. "How dare you speak to us that way, lad?! Where are your parents?!" demanded Oin, angrily.

"Listen here grandpa! We don't want any slack for yer! Get your old sorry ass out of OUR MALL!" barked the second boy. "Listen here, you scum! One more word out of you!" barked Thorin, as he approached the boys. Thorin felt angry now he had to leave his sword at home. "And who do you think you are? Some kind of macho wrestler? We can take you on right now!" shouted the third boy. "ENOUGH!" bellowed Gandalf, as he stepped forward. "Have your parents taught you any manners?! If you don't mind, I highly suggest you go home before your parents worry!" scorned the wizard.

"You're not the boss of us! You can't tell us what to do! We're not moving!" yelled the first boy. "Lets attack them!" cried out the fourth boy. Now everything is chaos as a fight broke out between the teenage boys and the dwarves. When Tabitha and her friend Sally, who works in the store, came out, Tabitha shrieked when she seen it.

"Hey, hey, hey! STOP IT!" Tabitha screamed. "Should I call security?" asked Sally. "Yes. But don't arrest my friends, arrest the teenagers, they're the ones that is starting it." said Tabitha. Tabitha knew it was the teenagers whom picked a fight with the Company, and so Sally picked up her phone and called security. It didn't take long for the mall security to arrive, to break up the fight. "Its those boys are picking a fight with my friends, James." said Tabitha. "I know these boys well, Miss O Hara. This isn't the first time they have caused trouble. They are known to pick fights and bully the older people." said James, the head security guard.

Then the guard turned his attention to the boys. "You're coming with us. And this time, I will not go easy on you!" snapped James at the teenagers. "That's not fair! They started it first!" shouted the first boy. And James and his guards led the boys away from the Company. "Oh guys I'm so, so sorry! I didn't know this was going to happen!" said Tabitha. "That's okay." said Gandalf. "Those teenage brats need a good ass whooping!" grumbled Gloin. "Now lets forget about all that and focus on the task at hand. This is my friend Sally, she works here at the clothing store, she and I will measure your size, so I can get your clothing." said Tabitha.

And so Tabitha and Sally begin their work on measuring the Company. Once they got their sizes, Sally wrote their names down and the sizes. "Now we can begin shopping. As for Mister Baggins, we have to go in the children's department to get him some clothes." said Sally. "I beg your pardon?!" said Bilbo, looking rather offended. "We didn't mean any offense, Mister Baggins, but you have to wear children's clothes, because of your size." said Tabitha. "None taken! Said Bilbo with a smile.

Four hours later, the clothes had been tried on and bought, and Tabitha went to the check out counter and paid for everything. Once that was done, they headed for home, and Tabitha informed the company there are many bathrooms in the home, so each member of the Company have their own bathroom, where they can bathe and put on their new clothing. Thorin was first to emerge from his bath, now dressed in his new clothes. Thorin now wearing blue jeans a dark blue dress shirt, with his wet dark hair, flowing down his shoulders. "You should at least pull your hair up in a pony tail, and leave down your braids." suggested Tabitha.

"When did you become a expert at hair?" asked Thorin. "My mother was a beautician and make up artist for celebrities." Tabitha replied. "And how does that make you special?" said Thorin sarcastically.

"I was only making a suggestion, sheesh! Don't get your undies in a wod!" grumbled Tabitha, as she walked away. Thorin snorted, as he began brushing her hair. Tabitha complimented everyone as they met up with her in the foyer of the home. Bilbo whom now is wearing tan pants, and a white buttoned shirt, looked down. "It's a little loose, but it's comfortable." said Bilbo.

"Something's missing though. A grey hooded shirt." said Tabitha, and she handed over the shirt to Bilbo, as the hobbit put it on. "What are you trying to do? Suffocate me?!" said Bilbo. "No, it's the fashion, Bilbo." said Tabitha. Fili and Kili came out, with Fili sporting a light brown jacket and a white t shirt. "What do we do with these? Isn't these really necessary?" asked Fili, holding up a pair of sunglasses. "They're supposed to protect your eyes from the Sun. They're called sunglasses or shades! Go ahead, let me see what they look like on you!" said Tabitha.

The young dwarves put on the glasses. Tabitha grinned. "Nice!" said the woman giving the dwarves two thumbs up. "We can't see a damn thing! Its dark in here!" said Kili. "Well take them off! You cannot wear them inside, sillies." said Tabitha. "These trousers are two tight around the waist! How can anyone stand wearing this?" snapped Dwalin. "Yes, we can see his-well, parts." said Nori.

"You mean to tell me I have to take all these clothes back? My friend and I busted our asses off measuring all of you, and we have to go through all that again?!" ranted Tabitha. "Yes!" they all shouted. Tabitha screamed in frustration as she headed towards the backyard/courtyard. "These dwarves are driving me bonkers!" Tabitha screamed as went outside, as she flopped onto a bench. "Quiet down over there, some of us are trying to sleep you know!" called out a neighbor.

"Bite me, you moron!" screamed Tabitha. She was in no mood for the neighbors to nit pick at her. While she sat outside, she could hear Gandalf giving everyone a lecture. She could hear only bits and pieces of the words, and he was getting on to them about how they are treating their host. They should consider themselves lucky, I would have made the whole lot of them, except for Bilbo and Gandalf, to sleep outside! thought Tabitha. The dwarves were not making things any easier on her.

As the sunset, she still remained sitting in the courtyard. She could hear heavy footsteps behind her. "Miss O Hara?" spoke up a deep voice from behind her. Tabitha looked up, and she could see Thorin standing in front of her. "Bombur has finished cooking supper, if you're hungry." said Thorin. "He actually figured out my kitchen?!" said Tabitha, with a chuckle.

Thorin laughed softly. "Yes." said Thorin. "I'll be in a minute." said Tabitha. "Look if any of us had upset you earlier, we didn't mean to. We like our clothing, Ori's working on some adjustments of the clothes. He knows some mending." said Thorin. Tabitha sighed. "No, I should be the one who should apologize. It has been a rough month for me. Before we got back inside, I want to show you something." said Tabitha. Thorin nodded, as he followed Tabitha to her mother and father's memorial stones.

"Miss O Hara, I'm so sorry." said Thorin, after Tabitha told Thorin what became of her parents. "That's how I inherited this home. Father left it for me in his will, and everything inside it, including the pipe organ and harp." said Tabitha. "Your mother's harp looks exactly like the one I have in Erebor. But my harp has engravings written in our language." said Thorin. "You play rather well, Thorin." said Tabitha. "Thank you. Lets go on inside before dinner gets cold!" said Thorin.

After supper, Tabitha went back on her laptop and continued her research. "HA!" Tabitha exclaimed as she finally found something about portals. Gandalf entered the study as he heard the woman exclaim. "I found something Gandalf! Go get Thorin and Balin." said Tabitha looking up at the wizard. Gandalf nodded, and left the study.

A few minutes later, Thorin and Balin entered the study followed by Gandalf. "I found some information about the portal you had spoken of, Gandalf." said Tabitha.

"And?"

"Well, according to this page it says a portal that appears by moonlight by means of transporting to different dimensions can disappear quickly as it appears. It also says the next return of the portal wouldn't be until the next full moon." said Tabitha. "So when will be the next full moon?" asked Balin. "I really hate to say this, but not until October, and that's three months from now." said Tabitha. "Three months?! THREE MONTHS?! We cannot wait for three months! We need to go back as soon as possible!" shouted Thorin.

"Hey! There is nothing I can do about it, Thorin! So don't you get all hostile with me! Just stay patient until the time comes!" shot back Tabitha. "She's right, we have to remain patient." sighed Balin. "Besides by there are time and date differences between both worlds, which means by the time we will return, we will be back to where we hopefully had left out." said Gandalf. "I sure hope so." grumbled Thorin. "Thank you, lassie for that information! We are grateful for your help!" said Balin.

Unfortunately Thorin didn't say one thank you to Tabitha. "Fine! Don't thank me! I busted my ass off on this research to help you out! A little gratitude will be nice!" Tabitha called out to Thorin. But Thorin already left the study. Aggravation dwarf, thought Tabitha as she closed her lap top and went to bed, wondering how she's going to manage three more months with these dwarves, especially Thorin. She didn't mind Bilbo and Gandalf, she enjoyed their company.

The next morning, Tabitha woke up finding the Company this time watching a channel about history. But she panicked when she saw Dwalin pick up his axe in fighting stance. "Put your weapons down, it's only a show, you tom fool!" Tabitha shouted. And Dwalin and the rest of the dwarves put away their weapons. "If any of you mess up my TV, you will buy me a new one!" shouted Tabitha. "With what, our looks?" snapped Nori. "No, I will find ways for each of you to get jobs and earn money to buy me a TV or build me a new one!" said Tabitha.

"Our apologies, Miss O Hara." said Dwalin. "So what did you find out about the portal Miss O Hara?" asked Dori. Tabitha explained what she told Gandalf, Balin and Thorin. Here comes the difficult part, telling them that they have to stay here for three more months! thought Tabitha. And she told them, of course.

And of course, the dwarves began complaining about it. This frustrated Tabitha very much, and had enough of the complaining, Tabitha left the room while they still complained. She could overhear Gandalf lecturing the dwarves of their griping. An hour later, Tabitha went to the memorial stones of her parents, as it was a routine she had done every night.

"This must be happening to me for a reason-the whole thing with Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves. Tell me, mom and dad, why is this happening to me? What have I done to deserve this? All I ever wanted to live a peaceful, normal life. Now its in a turmoil! What could I do?" said Tabitha loudly, as she bowed her head.