Blessed of the Valar
Chapter 2: The Invasion
It had only just gotten dark when the first booming knock pounded her door. When she opened it she had to pause for a moment at the sight of the massive dwarf on the other side. She probably should have been frightened of him but she knew Gandalf well enough to know he would not send her anyone that might harm her. He bowed and greeted her and she returned the gesture.
"Dwalin, at your service."
"No, Master Dwalin. It is I who is at your service this night. If you would please do as the sign on the door says I will show you to the dining room where dinner is waiting for you."
Once he had removed the requested items she led him to the dining room and laughed softly at the stunned look on his face. All traces of suspicion she had seen in his face were wiped clean as he sat down.
"Did ya cook all this yerself lass?"
"Of course I did…do you see anyone else in here?"
He shrugged slightly and dug into the nearest piece of fish. After the first bite he turned to give her an incredulous look that had her blinking owlishly back at him.
"Is something wrong Master Dwalin?"
"No Lass, nothing wrong. I'm just wondering how a pretty Lass that can cook like this is still unwed."
"It is by choice, Master Dwalin. I have not yet found anyone that I feel is worthy of me."
Before he could respond the doorbell rang and she headed back out to answer it. The elderly dwarf that greeted her had a grandfatherly air about him that put her at ease.
"Might you be our hostess this evening?"
"I am indeed. Belle Baggins, at your service Master Dwarf."
"Balin, son of Fundin, at yours."
She giggled softly and her eyes sparkled in the dim candlelight.
"Any relation to the one called Dwalin in my dining room?"
"Aye, that'll be my brother Lass. We haven't seen each other in some time."
"Then you should be inside catching up. Come along Master Balin."
She watched him read her sign and quickly comply, making her smile happily before guiding him to where his brother was. Their reunion made her feel happy, though she did wince a bit when they butted heads sharply.
"That looked painful."
The two turned to look at her in confusion until she motioned to their heads.
"Oh that. Perfectly normal lass. Head butts are a form of affectionate greeting among siblings."
"Still looks painful to me."
The two laughed and went back to the table as Belle went back to answer the door yet again. She was met by a pair of younger dwarves, one dark haired and the other blonde, holding their muddy boots in their hands as they bowed to her in unison.
"Fili…"
"…and Kili…"
"…At your service."
"Well aren't you two polite? Come in and set your stuff down…No I will not be handed weapons like some housemaid put them with the others. Thank you. Follow me if you want to eat."
Two pairs of socked feet padded after her like puppies until they saw the food and dug in like starving dogs. She gave them a disgusted scowl.
"Boys! Mind your manners and eat like civilized being or there will be no dessert for you."
Two sets of wide eyes looked at her with 'pity me' faces. She raised an eyebrow and the two younger dwarves settled down and began eating with more restraint than before, actually using the utensils. She nodded at them in approval as the older two stared at her in disbelief. Another knock had her opening the door again, only to have a pile of dwarves fall into her entryway. When some of them tried to push past her as if she weren't there she growled and planted her feet.
"Shoes off! Weapons off! Cloaks off! None of you goes a step further until you do as I say."
Most of them hesitated, unsure what to make of this small female blocking their path to the food they could smell. Three brothers stepped to the front and quickly did as she asked, the rest following their example.
"Hello again little lass. Have you been well?"
She smiled at the white-haired dwarf and his brothers.
"I have Dori, thank you. Would you like me to fix you some of that tea you love so much? Ori dear, I have a new booklet of patterns for your knitting to give you later. Nori…take anything and I will hunt you down and knock you for a loop."
"I would love some tea Lass. Come on you lot, I know the way to the food."
"Thank you Miss Belle. I brought something for you too."
"I would never dare to try and steal from you little Lady. I value my dwarf hood too much to take that kind of risk."
Dori dragged his brothers off to the dining room, the rest of the pack following behind as Belle laughed happily. Gandalf followed her into the kitchen where she made tea for herself and Dori, a special blend of herbal tea that she made up herself. Once done she sat next to Gandalf at the head of the table and observed the horrid table manners being displayed. She did laugh at Fili and Kili's efforts to maintain order, which failed miserably. A sharp whistle from her caused all of them to freeze in place.
"I know dwarves are not generally known for table manners but try not eat like a pack of starving dogs please? If you can manage some sort of table manners I might be persuaded to let you all try my famous pies."
Dori chuckled as they all settled down and behaved themselves at the promise of pie. He could see that Belle remembered his lessons well. Some of the dwarves had finished eating and were standing around catching up. As Belle passed by one wearing an odd hat she noticed what he was using to clean his mug and took it from him.
"That is a doily not a dishcloth."
"But it's full of holes."
"It's supposed to look like that, its Crochet."
"Oh and a wonderful game it is too…if you've got the balls for it."
The dwarf made an odd choking sound as a large tattooed hand smacked him in the back of his head.
"Watch yerself, there's a little lady present here."
"Sorry…"
"Relax, I've heard far worse I assure you."
Later on that same dwarf, joined by a few others, were using her silverware as musical instruments.
"Could you not do that? You'll blunt them."
The song and dance that followed had her torn between laughing and yelling until a loud booming knock brought a halt to the merriment. The dwarves were utterly silent, which was disconcerting to Belle.
"He is here."
She raised an eyebrow at the wizard's ominous tone and followed him to the door. When he opened it she felt her breath freeze in her lungs. The dwarf on the other wide was one of the most handsome beings she had ever seen and even under all the layers he wore she could tell he was strong and well-muscled. When he spoke she felt that deep gravelly baritone all the way to her toes.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way…twice."
Belle snorted softly as he removed his cloak.
"Everyone else managed to find it just fine and the signs are quite easy to read if you look at them."
He leveled a glare at her and began circling her like a predator, which was both arousing and irritating.
"So…this is the Hobbit? Tell me…Miss Baggins…Have you done much fighting? Axe or sword? Which is your weapon of choice?"
She felt her temper flare and the tips of her ears turned red as she glared right back at the arrogant dwarf in her entryway.
"Not that it is any business of your Master Dwarf, but I have indeed fought. Personally I prefer the bow or daggers to an axe or a sword. Furthermore, you are being quite rude. You have yet to introduce yourself, you have ignored my sign, and attempted to insult me in my own home. If you can manage to behave a bit better I might be willing to feed you."
The dwarf looked taken aback by her tone and her unwillingness to back down. The rest of the company looked shocked, save for the three who already knew her quite well. Nori and Ori lead Belle into the living room to calm her down while Dori got Thorin to remove his boots and then took him into the dining room. Once she was calm Belle went into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of food she'd left in the oven to keep it warm, placing it in front of the dark-haired dwarf.
"Thank you, Miss Baggins. I…apologize for my words earlier. They were unbecoming of a king, especially as I am your guest. I am Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, at your service."
"Apology accepted, Master Oakenshield. As a member of royalty I trust that you have better table manners than this lot here seems to have, bar a couple members."
Several dwarves blushed at her words and pointed looks while Thorin chuckled a bit at them. Dwalin gave Thorin a pointed look as Belle went to sit with Gandalf again.
"Did they come?"
"Aye, enjoys from all seven kingdoms."
"And what of the Iron Hills? Is Dain with us?"
"They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone."
The company looked disappointed at this but Gandalf soon produced an aged map from somewhere within his voluminous robes. As they began talking about their quest Belle couldn't help but find herself curious.
"Beast? What beast?"
"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Air borne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals."
"Yes I know what a dragon is, thank you."
After a fair bit of arguing by the dwarves over whether or not Belle was suited to join them on their journey, ignoring her protests, Gandalf stood and his power seemed to fill her small dining room to silence everyone. Whatever he said to Thorin had him telling Balin to give her a contract.
"Very well, we'll do it your way. Give her the contract."
"No, no please."
"It's just the usual. Summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."
"Funeral arrangements?"
Belle startled slightly when Thorin shoved the contract, none too gently, into her shaking hands. She decided to read it, if only to satisfy her curiosity. She started muttering parts of the contract out loud, much to Gandalf's amusement.
"Term is cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one 14th of total profit, if any. Seems fair. Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as…including but not limited to…lacerations…evisceration…incineration?"
"Oh aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye."
Her face paled a bit and Balin leaned forward out of concern.
"You alright Lass?"
She took a few deep breaths before responding.
"Feel a bit faint is all…"
"Think furnace…with wings."
"Air…I need air."
"Flash of light…searing pain…then Poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash."
She swayed unsteadily on her feet for a moment, Gandalf and the others watching with either concern of curiosity.
"Nope."
With that she fell sideways and would likely have hit the floor hard had Nori not leaped forward and caught her. He turned to give Bofur a harsh glare even as Gandalf berated the hatted dwarf.
"Oh very helpful Bofur."
Thorin gave Gandalf a pointed look, obviously not impressed with the little female thus far. Nori got her into an armchair by the warm fire and Dori brought her a cup of tea. Sweet little Ori sat by her feet for a moment until they were certain she was going to be alright, only then did they move to rejoin the rest of the company to discuss plans. Gandalf's concerned face made Belle give him a small smile.
"I'll be alright, just let me sit quietly for a moment."
"You've been sitting quietly for far too long Belle. Tell me. When did Doilies, and your mother's dishes, become so important to you?"
"When I lost the only things that I ever loved in this world to those damnable wolves! Those horrid beasts came into our peaceful little world and preyed on Hobbits like rabbits. My parents tried to fight them off, to protect me, and were killed because of it. I can't go back out in the world Gandalf…not without her. It doesn't feel right. Nothing feels right anymore, and it hasn't since that awful night in the Fell Winter. I would have been killed myself had the Rangers not come when they did. Those creatures had managed to break through the door and I only had a small dagger to defend myself with. One little girl, a child, against six starving wolves…hardly a fair fight Gandalf. The Ranger's leader found my parents outside and rushed in to check on me…and thank the Valar that he did. One of the wolves had already gotten ahold of me but he killed them all quickly. It took weeks for the physical wounds to heal…though I fear the mental scars never will. I miss my mother Gandalf…she was the one that took me with her on her journeys, who encouraged me to explore…"
She broke off with a heart-wrenching sob and the Ri brothers surrounded her with affection and comfort. The dwarves had all come into the living room after her initial yell, only to be struck silent at the story she told. Several of them had moist eyes, and others had clenched fists. Kili sat in front of her and looked horrified.
"Only the rangers came to help your people?"
"No Kili…many of the Blue Mountain dwarves came to help as well. They brought food and blankets with them, and they helped to bury our dead. Rivendell came as soon as they heard, using their skills to heal those with severe injuries. Since that day I have rarely left my home, let alone the Shire."
Dori and Nori each had a hand on one of her shoulders, Ori was practically draped across her lap like a blanket, and Fili and Kili sat on either side of her legs. Gandalf had flinched back from her when she yelled and now looked much older than usual. He had known of Belladonna's death, but not of the circumstances of said death. He gave Belle a sad look.
"I understand my dear. I will not pressure you any further. I had hoped to talk you into joining this quest in the hope that it might help you…but I will not press any further."
Belle remained silent and the company looked at her to find her dozing off in the chair. Thorin felt himself soften towards her a bit and gently lifted her into his arms before laying her down in what was obviously the Master bedroom. He looked down at her, feeling guilty for thinking that such a soft looking creature could never know true hardship. He had been very wrong about that, she knew hardship and the pain of loss. He brushed her auburn curls back from her face and silently left the room. Belle drifted in and out, hearing Thorin's deep voice singing a song that spoke to her heart and soul. She made up her mind, then and there, to follow him. She packed herself a bag, filling it with all of the essentials her mother used to pack for a journey.
When she woke in the morning the dwarves and Gandalf were gone and her home was clean and empty. She shook her head and quickly set about dressing herself. A pair of soft leather pants with extra padding around her knees, and a soft cotton blouse with a reinforced leather vest over top made up the main part of her ensemble. She slipped on a thick pair of fingerless leather gloves and a pair of heavy leather boots. She was the only Hobbit that ever actually wore shoes and that was because her feet were smaller and more delicate than any other Hobbit, yet another oddity that set her apart. She tucked a thick waxed cloak into her pack and tied a bedroll to it as well before hefting it onto her back. As she walked out she spoke with her friend and gardener. She told him that she was leaving for an unknown period of time and if she wasn't back in three years that Bag End was to go to her newly-wed cousins Drogo and Primula Baggins. She also told him that Lobelia Sackville-Baggins was not to be let near her home, under any circumstances. With that done she took off running across the rolling green hills of the Shire, catching up to the company as they entered the woods at the edge of Hobbiton.
"Wait! Wait!"
They all stopped and turned their ponies around as she ran up behind them. Thorin was the last to turn around and she felt her breath catch in her throat as the sunlight shone behind him. His lips twitched a bit, as if he were fighting the urge to smile so she did it for him.
"I signed it."
She handed the contract to Balin who pulled out some sort of small wooden box and an odd magnifier to look it over before turning back to her with a smile as he added her contract to the box.
"Everything appears to be in order. Welcome Miss Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."
"Give her a pony."
She glanced at Thorin but he had already turned away and started riding again. As she stood in the middle of the path, trying to figure out how to get up on a pony while it was still moving, a pair of hands reached down and lifted her up into a saddle. Glancing to either side revealed Fili and Kili to be her rescuers and she gave them a warm smile.
"Thank you boys."
She watched in confused amusement as little bags of money started flying around the company.
"What did they bet on Gandalf?"
"Hmm? Whether or not you'd turn up. Most of them bet that you wouldn't."
"What did you think?"
She let out a bright laugh as Gandalf caught a little bag of his own and grinned at her.
"Never had a doubt."
She looked at Nori and scowled at him.
"What is your excuse for betting against me Nori?"
The thief tried to look innocent but her continued scowl caused him to almost deflate and look sheepish, causing several other dwarves to adopt shocked looks.
"Sorry little lass, I didn't think you'd be able to make yourself follow after what you said last night."
"I suppose I can forgive you for that then. At least Ori has faith in me."
She gave the younger dwarf a beaming smile and the poor thing blushed all the way into his beard, causing an uproar of laughter. As they passed the borders of the Shire she stopped and turned her pony to look behind at the rolling green hills and little blue rivers of her homeland, a soft sigh escaping her before she could stop it.
"Lass? You alright?"
"This is the farthest from home I've been since that night…I'm just…I'm afraid I won't come back…that I'll never see this sight again."
Fili and Kili, who had come up beside her when she stopped, leaned across from their horses to wrap her in a hug. She burst into bright peals of laughter when the two lost their balance and fell off their ponies and into the dirt. A deep chuckle from behind them had her turning back around to face an amused Thorin.
"I apologize if I'm holding everyone up...I just…"
"Think nothing of it Miss Baggins. We understand the worry of not returning. It is one we all feel keenly."
She gave him a soft smile and was surprised when he returned it and grabbed the reigns of her pony to lead her to the front of the line with him, leaving Fili and Kili to scrabble back onto their ponies alone.
"Oh that's nice Uncle…"
"…just leave us to fend for ourselves."
"Just because the Hobbit is pretty…"
"…doesn't mean we aren't still important."
Belle's ears turned a bright red at the boy's words and she looked away from Thorin to hide her rising blush. His deep quiet laugh told her she had failed at that, but when she looked back up at him his face was soft and his eyes were shining with humor.
Later that night, after they had finally made camp, Belle was trying in vain to get some sleep. She had found out the hard way that dwarves can snore…very loudly in fact. When she finally gave up on sleep and stood up she noticed one of the dwarves was snoring moths into his mouth and then breathing them back out. A shiver of disgust rippled through her and she picked up an apple to take to her pony. A screeching sound made her back away from the edge of their campsite and closer to the fire, shivers coursing through her body.
"Orcs."
Kili's low tone didn't help her nerves any.
"Orcs?"
She didn't realize she had woken Thorin with her exclamation, and neither did his nephews as they decided to wind her up a bit.
"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them."
"They strike, in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood."
As she turned to look back out over the trees below them she heard a pair of snickers behind her and turned back with a growl, only to have Thorin beat her to it.
"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"
As he stalked past her Thorin rested a large hand on her shoulder for a moment, as if to reassure her which it did. She watched as Kili seemed to deflate under his uncle's unhappy tone.
"We didn't mean anything by it."
"No you didn't. You know nothing of the world."
"Don't mind him laddie. Thorin has more cause than most, to hate orcs."
Belle gave Balin a sharp look before sharing her own opinion.
"Master Oakenshield is right though. That was a horrid trick to play on someone, especially after I was so kind to you two last night. Do you know what kind of nightmares those creatures can cause a person to have after meeting them? No, I doubt you do. Have either of you ever even seen an orc?"
The two shook their heads and she sighed softly.
"I thought as much. I have, boys, and I dearly hope you never do. They are the vilest race in all of Middle Earth."
She broke off and turned away, trying to hide her shivers and her wet eyes in the shadows. Then Balin began to tell a story, one that spoke of battle, loss, grief, triumph, and told her why Thorin was so well respected. When Balin was finished everyone in the company was looking at their leader with respect and awe on their faces, even Belle's shining eyes were filled with respect.
"I thought to myself then. There is one I could follow. There is one I could call king."
Thorin gave them all a short bow of his head in recognition before Belle asked a question.
"And the Pale Orc? What happened to him?"
"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."
Belle wanted to believe Thorin, but the glance shared between Balin and Gandalf sent shivers of dread down her spine. When Thorin walked off to find a moment alone he motioned for Belle to follow, so she did. Thorin sat on a rock and looked up at the shining moon above them, the soft light catching the silver in his hair and making him seem to glow. She sat beside him with a soft sigh of longing, one that Thorin couldn't quite interpret as he looked down at the small female by his side. He noticed her boots and raised an eyebrow at her.
"I noticed, Miss Baggins, that you seem very different to your kin."
"I am, quite a bit different, yes…"
"For example…you have smaller feet and wear shoes, whilst the rest of your kin have large feet and are eternally barefoot."
"I…yes…I do have small feet for a Hobbit. I've always been picked on for it. Other Hobbits don't need shoes because the soles of their feet are so tough, but mine aren't like that. My mother always said it was because I wasn't really meant for the Shire. I never understood what she meant."
"Perhaps one day it will make sense to you. Might I ask another question of you Miss Baggins?"
"Only if you call me Belle."
His deep chuckle seemed to rumble through her and made her stomach to a few odd twists in her belly.
"Very well then, Belle…I was wondering why you wear a brace on your right arm despite not having a bow?"
When he spoke her name she felt her entire body shiver, and from the glint in his eyes he noticed it too. However, his question caused her to flinch back slightly.
"I'm sorry, I can't answer that…not yet anyway. I do not know you well enough to trust you with that. My parents always told me to never take it off unless I was with people I trusted with my very life."
Thorin looked confused, but very curious as well.
"Then I shall simply have to earn your trust so that I might have that mystery solved…do you not agree…Belle?"
His voice washed over her and her eyes turned a darker shade, almost like melted chocolate, as she looked up at him.
"I suggest you stop saying my name in that tone unless you want me to lose all sense of what is proper, Master Oakenshield."
He lowered his head a bit and looked at her eyes, making her breath catch in her throat yet again.
"I would prefer to have you call me Thorin, little Belle."
His large rough fingers gently traced along one of her ears before he stood and walked back to the rest of the company, leaving a wide-eyed, and red-eared Hobbit behind him. His dark laugh echoed back to her as he walked away and she groaned softly, knowing that he had teased her like that on purpose. He knew exactly what his voice was doing to her when he spoke like that, and now she had to begin plotting her payback.