CHAPTER 3
''Put that back. Put that back.'' Bryn felt a lot like her brother, and realized with a start that she even sounded like him. Maybe it was that blasted wizard's fault. The dwarves had all invited themselves in, and she had heard all of their names. It was very complicated, and anyone other than her or her brother would have forgotten all the names, but she was a Baggins, and had practiced memorizing their names. Balin and Gloin were arranging the food, and Bombur, Bofur, and Nori where raiding the pantry. Oin and Bifur were getting antique chairs from the parlor, which she told them to put back as well. Kili and Fili were bringing tankards of ale into the dining room, and Ori and Gandalf were setting the table with plates and forks. Dwalin was drinking ale in a corner, and had no intention of helping anyone.
Bryn felt like collapsing in bed, but would never let these dwarves run around the house without her to supervise them. Gandalf was drinking a small glass of wine, and then began counting the dwarves. She wondered if there was anyone else she should know about.
''Fili, Kili, Bifur, Bombur, Bofur, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Dori, Nori, Balin, Dwalin… We appear to be one dwarf short.'' Gandalf said aloud, looking at Dwalin. Bryn groaned. Another dwarf. Probably a messy and dirty as the rest of them.
''Aye.'' Dwalin said, taking a gulp of ale before continuing, ''Thorin is late, as always. He has gone to a meeting with our kin from the Iron Hills. He will come.'' Dwalin then engrossed himself with his ale once more.
Bryn looked at Gandalf. Thorin? Who was that? Balin called out that the dinner was ready, and all the dwarves went into the dining room to feast. Bryn felt like shoving herself in and eating some of the food. But seeing Fili walk on the table and the food made her appetite vanish.
After they had eaten they all began to clear out and spread through the house like pests. Bryn growled and grumbled, and eventually dragged Gandalf away.
''Why miss Baggins, they are a very merry bunch. Once you get used to them.'' Gandalf offered, holding out his hands like he was completely innocent.
''I don't want to get used to them. Look at the pantry. There is mud, trailing the carpet, dishes lying around, I wont even go into the details about the bathroom. They've all but destroyed the plumbing. I want to know what they're doing in my house!'' Bryn exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. A small voice interrupted her and she turned to see Ori. He was holding out his plate and looked quite lost.
''I'm sorry to interrupt, but what do I do with my plate?'' The plate was almost immediately scooped up by Fili and he threw it to Kili, who in turn threw it into the kitchen. Bryn felt her insides screaming. All of the antique dishes and silverware that was definitely going to break making her want to weep.
''Not a worry lad, give it to me.'' Fili took another plate from Ori, who continued to give plates to the dwarf. After that they continued a very catchy but annoying song about how she hated them blunting and breaking her dishes. Of course they used her brother's name, and apparently her putting on her brother's baggier clothes had done the trick. The song ended with her standing dumbfounded looking at a pile of clean dishes, stacked on her dining room table.
All of the dwarves shouted and laughed at her, not caring that it was very rude, or that she could see the content of their mouths. Some of them apparently hadn't finished chewing, and he was glad she was supposed to be a boy. Otherwise it would be shocking to see them act this way in front of a girl… Even though they were dwarves.
Loud banging interrupted them, and the room went silent.
Gandalf looked around, ''He is here.''
After that they all went to the door, Bryn being shoved in front of them. Gandalf beat her to opening the door, and it was probably a good thing, she wouldn't have opened the door at all. Gandalf slowly opened the door, bending down to see a very handsome dwarf.
Bryn looked away, but then looked back up at him. He was almost as tall as Dwalin, and had blackish gray hair. His beard was not large, nor small like Kili's, but it was full and short, trimmed closer to the skin than most dwarves.
''Gandalf.'' He said, looking at the wizard as though he had been waiting for hours. He walked into the home, looking at the door before looking at Gandalf again. ''You said this place would be easy to find. I got lost, twice. And wouldn't have found the place at all if it weren't for that mark on the door.'' The dwarf closed the door, and took off his dark blue cloak, hanging it up on the wall.
''Mark? There is no mark on that door. My brother had it painted a week ago.'' She exclaimed, gesturing at the door. If they found out that she was a girl, who cared, so be it. Maybe they'd leave then. But a secret part of her almost wanted them to stay.
''There is a mark, I put it there myself. Mr. Baggins, I'd like to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakeshield.'' Gandalf announced the dwarf, and watched closely as Thorin walked over to her.
His icy blue eyes swept over her, and he put his hands on her shoulders. ''So this, is the hobbit.'' He said quietly, disbelief flickering in his eyes for but a moment. ''Tell me, Mr. Baggins, axe or a sword, what is your weapon of choice?''
Bryn had never used an axe, and most certainly not a sword. She had used daggers, but nothing other than that. ''Neither. I've only used throwing knives before, if you must know. But I don't see why that would matter.''
Thorin looked her up and down once more before turning away, he mumbled something under his breath and followed the others back into the dining room, saying something about a burglar as he went.
''Gandalf… Why would that matter?'' Bryn asked, looking up at Gandalf. He refused to meet her gaze, and instead just mumbled some nonsense and walked into the dining room with the others.
At Balin's request she went and made a quick meal, pouring Thorin a large bowl of warm stew and getting him a tankard of ale. He grunted a thank you when she set the food down, and took a few bites before any of the company began to question him.
''What do our kin in the Iron Hills say? Will they come?'' Dwalin asked finally, watching Thorin carefully.
Thorin paused and looked at his bowl before replying. ''They will not come. They say this quest is ours, and ours alone.''
''You're going on a quest?'' Bryn asked quietly, Gandalf turning to look at her as she spoke.
''Ah yes Bilbo, do bring some light over here please.'' Gandalf said, spreading a small map onto the table. ''Far to the east, over rivers and mountain ranges, woodlands, and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak.'' The wizard continued, his fingers resting on the drawing of a mountain. Bryn brought a lantern over, reading the perfect calligraphy that stood out on the page.
''The Lonely Mountain.'' She read aloud, her eyes going to the image of a red dragon beside the writing. Thorin saw where she was looking, and his fist tightened in what she assumed was anger.
''Aye, Gloin has read the portence, and the portence say it is time.'' Gloin said firmly, gently resting his fist on the table. Bryn wandered into the pantry, hoping that there might be some food left for her.
Oin began to speak. ''Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold. When the heirs of Erebor shall return, and the reign of the beast shall end…'' The rest of the company began to whisper amongst themselves, smaller conversations going on between the group.
Bryn fiddled with her hands, and turned back to look at the dwarves. ''What beast?''
''Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age.'' Bofur answered her, taking his pipe out of his mouth so that he could speak. ''Airborne firebreather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks… Extremely drawn to precious metals…''
''Yes I know what a dragon is.'' Bryn interrupted him, wringing her hands out as she stood behind Thorin's chair.
Ori stood up violently, his chair screeching as he pushed it away, ''I'm not afraid, I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the wolfish Iron right up his jacksey!''
''Sit down!'' Dori pulled his brother down, Ori sitting in his seat with a sigh.
''The task would be difficult with an army behind us, and we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best, nor brightest.'' Balin eyed Thorin and the others as he spoke.
''Who you callin' dim?'' Nori cried, the rest of the company calling insults to each other.
Fili slammed his hand down on the table, silencing them. ''We may be few in number, but we're fighters. Down to the last dwarf!'' Cheers erupted after his words, and his boyish youth showed in the smile he gave the crowd.
''And do not forget we have a wizard, in our company. Gandalf will have slayed hundreds of Dragons, in his time.'' Fili's brother spoke up, looking at Gandalf expectantly.
''Well now, I wouldn't say, well…''Gandalf put his hands up in mock defense, his pipe in one hand.
''Well how many then? How m any dragons have you killed?'' Dori asked, waiting patiently for Gandalf to answer.
''Go on! Give us a number!'' Gloin exclaimed, he and his half-deaf brother arguing from across the table. Bofur and Bombur began betting, and Nori argued with Dori over how many the wizard had actually killed.
''Oh no, please, please stop…'' Bryn protested, looking at her feet hopelessly.
Thorin's jaw clenched and he stood up, ''Enough!'' The room silenced, and they looked at their leader.
Bryn watched him with wide eyes, wondering where the sudden anger had come from. His whole countenance changed, from a stubborn dwarf in her brother's dining room, to a leader of a company. He looked regal, majestic even.
''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 turn east towards the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Are we just going to stand by, and let our enemies plunder our riches!? Or are we going to fight, and take back Erebor!?'' He thrust his fist in the air, cries of agreement filling the room.
''But you forget the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain.'' Balin's words were met with silence, Thorin's face falling as he plopped back down into his chair. Bryn sighed, and looked to Gandalf.
''That may not be entirely true.'' Gandalf said, Thorin looking up at the wizard. Gandalf moved his fingers in an odd way, and lo and behold a silver key appeared in his weathered hands. Bryn gasped, and leaned in to see if her eyes were not deceiving her.
''How did you come by this?'' Thorin whispered, looking at the key with longing. Sadness and anger lurked withing his icy blue gaze, and she couldn't help but admire his strong face. The feeling was gone as soon as it had come, and she watched quietly as Thorin took the key from the wizard.
''You father gave it to me, for safe keeping, but now it is yours.'' Gandalf settled back into his chair, taking a drag on his pipe.
Silence filled the room, but was broken finally by Fili.
''If there is a key, there must be a door.''
There's another way in.'' Kili whispered, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder.
''Yes, and that my dear Bilbo, is where you come in.'' Gandalf and the rest of the group looked to her, and Bryn blanched. She desperately looked behind her, feeling very uncomfortable with the situation at hand. ''You have been chosen as the burglar of our company.''
''Me?'' She squeaked, then her voice returned. ''I'm no burglar, I've never stolen a thing in my life!'' She looked around the room, desperate for the other's to help her cause. She knew deep down that an adventure sounded very tempting, but wasn't she trying to prove her loyalty to Bilbo?
''I'm afraid I have to agree with the lad. He'd be better off staying here than getting killed on the road.'' Balin sighed, shaking his head a she spoke. He looked to Thorin, and the dark-haired dwarf nodded in agreement.
The other's began to add their own comments, and even though she didn't like their insults, she did not let them bother her. She was only glad for the further reason to stay in the Shire. She was a Baggins, and was not supposed to have any sort of adventure business.
Gandalf intrerrupted them, the room growing dark and the candles flickering as he bellowed old words of magic. ''if I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar...'' His countenance calmed, and he sat back down, ''Then a burglar, he is.'' Bryn blinked, her heat pounding. An angry Gandalf was not something she enjoyed seeing, and with a quick glance she saw that even Thorin looked taken a back.
''Hobbit's are very light on their feet,'' Gandalf offered, his eyes bright as he gave Thorin more reason for her to come. ''And while the dragon will recognize the scent of dwarf, the smell of hobbit is all but unknown to him.'' Thorin mumbled something to himself, then looked to Balin.
''Brung out the contract.'' He said gruffly, and Bryn got the feeling that he had no desire to act kind to her.
''Contract?'' She cried, not wanting any contract with dwarves, especially if it meant losing her well-earned holiday.
''Yes a contract, just the usual. Possible hazards, funeral arrangements.'' Balin smiled and then handed the contract to Thorin, who then slammed it it her chest. Bryn staggered back, clutching the contract to her chest. Thorin made no move to say anything else, so she deftly unfolded the contract, reading the fine print and all.
Upon reading the list of hazards she may be subject to, she began to feel faint. ''Lacerations, evisceration, incineration.'' She paused, her head felt light, and a dizzy spell hit. ''Incineration?''
''Aye. He'll melt the flesh right off your bones.'' Bofur replied, sounding inappropriately cheery. ''Just a poof of smoke and whoosh, you're nothing moe than a pile of ash.''
''Yes, I... Don't feel so well.'' Bryn too deep breaths, trying to clear her head of dragons and fire.
''Think furnace, with wings.''
Bryn straightened, ''Nope.'' Then she fell to the ground, unconscious.