Author's note: I don't own anything, except my OC. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 3

Bilbo went to the door and opened. Who came in, was a rather tall dwarf. I didn't know who it was but even I could tell that he was important. „Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way twice.", said the dwarf. „I wouldn't have found it at all, had it not been for that mark on the door."

The new dwarf looked rather serious and just as grumpy as Dwalin. Maybe they're brothers? They certainly had similarities.

„Mark?! There is no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!", the little hobbit spoke up. This must be one hell of a night for him. He didn't seem to know that there were coming visitors, and so many at once.

„There is a mark. I put it there myself.", Gandalf said to Bilbo. There definitly was a mark. I saw it myself but the hobbit didn't seem to know. Why does Gandalf has to surprise everybody? Aren't there more important matter for him than to shock innocent people?

„Bilbo Baggins allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield.", Gandalf explained. So that was his name. I think I heard about somebody with this name. But this is imposible because that would mean our destination is probably Erebor and we would have to fight against a dragon. Completly absurd!

Thorin looked the hobbit up and down. He looked like he had expected better. „So, this is the hobbit.", he said in an almost amused manner. He started circling Bilbo and asked „Tell me Mr. Baggins. Have you done much fighting?" Wasn't it obvious that he hadn't? Bilbo looked slightly confused about that question. „Pardon me?"

„Axe or sword? What is your weapon of choice?" „Well, I do have some at conkers, if you must know... but I fail to see why that's relevant." By now everybody looked amused about our host, even grumpy dwarf 1 and 2 smiled but I failed to see what was so amusing. I didn't think it's funny to embarrase somebody in front of so many people. It's our host. What does he think he's doing?

„Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar!", Thorin said, making everybody laugh at the small hobbit.

Now it was my turn to speak up. „What do you think you are doing? He is our host! Show some wasn't even prepared for so many visitors but he let all of us stay nonetheless."

Bilbo looked grateful that I defended him infront of this dwarf. Gandalf looked surprised and the dwarf infront of me looked slightly angry. Thorin turned around to Gandalf „Who is that, Gandalf? I'm not going to take a girl on this adventure."

„She is no little girl, I assure you. Let me introduce: Valeria daughter of Kiaran." „Nonetheless. You didn't tell me that you planed on bringing a woman with us. Can she even fight?", Thorin said. „Of course I can fight.", I said in a 'isn't that obvious' manner. „And I'm standing right next to you. Talk to me and don't just assume things that aren't true. And if you don't believe me, ask your friends." My voice was sweet but, from before, everybody knew that I was rather angry with the stubborn dwarf."

„Don't fool me woman. You too look nothing like a warrior. Just stay here with the hobbit." What an idiot... „Oh don't give me that! Just because I'm a woman I can't fight? I fought better than my brothers before I could walk, you arrogant, stubborn dwarf!" Ok maybe this was a bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly hit it's mark. „I don't trust you girl. Where did you say you came from?"

„This is none of your concerns. Gandalf said you are going on an adventure and that you need help. That's why I'm here." „Than you can leave again. We don't need your help. Gandalf misinformed you." Even though he was slightly taller than me, I wasn't really intimidated by him. We held eachothers gaze and tried to stare the other one down but neither of us thought about giving in.

Gandalf nervously coughed „Thorin, she is one of the best warriors of her clan. Trust me when I say she can handle herself. And she will come with us whether you like it or not." Thorin broke our staring competition and turned the glare to Gandalf.

„I am the leader of this company. Don't you think it is my choice to decide who's coming and who's not?" „In this case no! Your decision would we unwise. If she is not coming than I'm not going either."

Wow... That really surprised me. I know I couldn't return home. I would be a goner... All the anger I had towards the dwarf were replaced with something like amusement and self-confidence as I saw him battle with himself. He wouldn't be that stupid to leave Gandalf behind and I was almost 100% sure that he wouldn't argue again.

„We'll talk about this later, Gandalf. This is not over but for now let's eat and talk." Thorin didn't look pleased at all and like he said he wouldn't let the matter fall.

Now everybody was sitting around the dinner table. I was sitting in between Fili and Kili with my plate, which I had taken from the shelf, and stared at my food. I had lost my appetite.

Balin was the first one to speak „What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" „Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin aswered. I looked up from my food and listened attentively. „What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?", Dwalin asked curiously.

For a moment Thorin stopped in his actions before taking a deep breath and answering „They will not come." His voice was low and full of disappointment. Through the dwarves ran a disappointed and annoyed mutter. „They say this quest is ours and ours alone.", Thorin proceeded.

„You're going on a quest?", Bilbo asked as he stepped forward and looked back and forth between Gandalf and Thorin. „Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light.", Gandalf said and Bilbo hurried off into the next room just to return with a small candle which he placed infront of the map Gandalf had taken out of his pocket.

„Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, there lies a single solitary peak.", Gandlaf began to explain. „The Lonely Mountain", Bilbo read and now even I couldn't contain my curiousity. I leaned further in to catch a glimse of the map.

„Aye, Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time.", said one of the larger dwarves with a likewise large orange beard who I didn't know the name of. „Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold.", said the one that was possibly Oin. I couldn't believe that they are really believing in some portents and prophesies. Weren't those just tales we tell little children to make them believe we all have a destiny and that everything will be alright? Although, they just sung as they made the dishes... children...

„When the birds of Yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end.", Oin proceeded. Honestly, I don't believe in any of those things but the way the old dwarf said this gave me the goosebumps. Now the little hobbit asked out of curiosity „Uhh... What beast?" „Smaug", I muttered under my breath. That earned me three pairs of eyes that were looking at me like I had justsaid something only an insider could know.

This time it was the dwarfs turn who had a funny hat. „That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible... chiefest and greatest calamity of our age.", he told him calmly. Bilbo began to act really nervous and it didn't help that the funny dwarf went on with his describtion of the dragon. „Airborne fire breather. Teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of metals." „Yes, I know what the dragon is.", the hobbit snapped at him. Actually, I could understand him very well. If you're afraid of something it doesn't help that someone is going on about it.

„I'm not afraid. I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!", a young dwarf from the other side of the table made me smile. I should give them more credit for their courage to fight against a dragon. „The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us but we numbre just thirteen and not thirteen of the best... nor the brightest.", another dwarf with white hair said.

„We may be few in numbre but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!", Fili exclaimed. He slammed his hand on the table, making me jumb a little. He looked at me apologetic but I just smiled at him. As to prove his brothers point Kili added „And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."Though I didn't know Gandalf that well, even I could tell that he probably didn't even see one in his time and even if he did, he hadn't killed any.

He just proved my point for he began to cough nervously and stuttered when the others questioned him about it. When it got really loud Thorin stood up from his chair „Shazaar!", he bellowed over the whole table. Everybody got quite.

„If we have read these signs, do you not think others would have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?"

The dwarves cheered. „Du bekâr! Du bekâr!" From my lessons I knew that 'Du bekâr!' meant 'take arms'. I had to laugh. It seemed so easy for Thorin to make his company enthusiastic and cheer. I knew he would be a great leader, no, he is already a great leader. Right then I saw him in a different light. He wasn't the arrogant, stubborn git, I had met earlier. He was a leader full of hope and enthusiasm.

„You forget the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain.", the white haired dwarf said and the cheers stopped. „That ,my dear Balin, is not entirely true."Gandalf suddenly had a key in his hands. „How came you by this?", Thorin inquired. His voice was not more than a whisper.

„It was given to me by your father. By Thrain. For savekeeping.", Gandalf explained. „It is yours now" He gave Thorin the key who held it in his hand like a precious treasure. „If there is a key, than there must be a door.", Kili said. I had to roll my eyes. Could it be any more obvious? A key = a door... Why did he has to say it out loud?

Gandalf pointed at the runes I could barely see from my seat „These runes speak of another passage to the lower Halls." Kili placed a hand on my shoulder. „There is another way in." and again I had to roll my eyes. No need to repeat everything.

„Well, if we can find it but dwarf doors are invisible when closed.", Gandalf explained. My teacher once said something along those lines once. I think we spoke about the prophecy about how the King under the Mountain will return. I've never thought that I see this prophecy done myself.

„The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-Earth who can.", Gandalf said, giving Thorin a pointing look.

„The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage." Gandalf looked at Bilbo who was standing behind them. Bilbo's head piped up and shot towards Gandalf. The hobbit didn't think he had it in him to complete the task but I could feel that there was something very special about him.

„But if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done." „That's why we need a burglar.", the small dwarf added to Gandalfs words. „And a good one too. An expert, I'd imagine.", Bilbo said. Of course at some point the dwarves had to mistake his comments „And are you?", Oin asked. „Am I what?" „He said he's an expert! Hey!", Oin exclaimed happily but Bilbo tried to defend himself. „Me? No, no, no, I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen anything in my life." I had to agree. He was a hobbit after all. They didn't steal. They just lived happily and peacefully and never had any adventures. Very much like my own people. But there is an exception to every rule.

„Well, I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material.", Balin pointed out. Bilbo seemed to be grateful for that and agreed silently with Balin. „Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves.", Dwalin said. Lucky me that I could fend for myself.

By now, Gandalf seemed rather annoyed about those comments. „Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a Burglar, then a burglar he is!", with that Gandalf stood up. Everybody fell silent immediately and surprise was written all over everyones face. The lights around us seemed to get a little darker. Even I had to admit that this was rather scary for someone like him. The atmosphere seemed to get lighter as Gandalf finished his speech.

„Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact they can pass unseen by most, if they choose.", he explained. It made sense but I feared Bilbo would end up as dragon food. He didn't seem to have a lot of confidence in himself.

„And, while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of a hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage." He turned to Thorin. „You asked me to find the 14th member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There is a lot more to him than the appearence suggests and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know. Including himself."

The wizard planned something. I didn't know what but there was this mischievous look in his eyes. „You must trust me on this." He gave Thorin a pointed look. The same he gave me when he talked me into coming. Thorin sighed „Very well. We'll do it your way." He didn't even acknowledge Bilbo's protests. So it was decided. He wouldn't put up much of a fight when it came down to the hobbit who couldn't even fight but he's so unsure about accepting me help? Not that I really wanted to help him by now but I knew I couldn't go home that easily and I wouldn't let that stubborn dwarf win.

„Balin, give him the contract.", Thorin said and Balin took several sheats of paper out of his bag. „It's just the usual. Summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements and so forth.", Balin told him and Bilbo took a look into the contract. „Funeral arrangements?",he asked. What did he think was going to happen if anything actually happened to him?

Thorin whispered something in Gandalfs ear but I couldn't hear what it was. Probably just some comment about the hobbits reaction to the funeral arrangements.

„Terms: Cash on delivery up to but not exceeding one-fourteenth of total profit...Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by... or sustained as a consequence thereof, including but not limited to laceration...evisceration...", Bilbo started to read the contract. He mumbled some points but at the injuries that could happen on this journey he paused. „Incineration?" He obviously couldn't believe it but I knew that there is quite a chance to get burns. I mean, we're going to fight against a living dragon.

„Oh aye. He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye.", the dwarf with the funny hat said. „Shouldn't he stop talking? Bilbo doesn't look that good.", I asked Fili but he and his brother just shrugged their shoulders. „Think furnace with wings. Flash of light, searing pain then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash." „Are you alright Bilbo?", I started to stand up as I realised he would likely faint at any moment.

„Nope", with that he fainted. I knew it. Why didn't I stop the dwarf? „Oh very helpful Bofur.", Gandalf commented. Very helpful indeed.

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