NOTE: Hey guys been a long time lol. For those of you new to the story, basically I'm trying to create a love interest for Thorin. Frankly the hobbit lacks a little romance haha. For those who have already read this story I thank you for your continued patience. I know it's been a long haul. As you can see I have restructured the story a little bit to make longer chapters. There is a new one at the end. REMEMBER: any and all reviews are greatly appreciated.
I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY J.R. TOLKEIN
I would be more than several decades before the pair had another opportunity to meet. Their lives dragged them in separate directions. The battle for Moria was hopeless as it was, and Thorin knew that enough lives had been lost. If they pursued their mission, everyone might die and then there would be no hope for the dwarfs still under Azog's control.
Prosperity was a hard thing to come by for Thorin's people. Thrain had disappeared, placing all of the responsibility on Thorin's shoulders. He managed to set up a colony for the dwarfs in the Blue Mountains and life grew comfortable again, even thought they could never achieve the glory and riches gained in Erebor. But one day, Thorin's peaceful world shattered.
"Thorin it is time" Gloin spoke.
"What news?" Thorin asked.
"Smaug has not been seen for sixty years and the prophecy indicates fate is ready for our move." Gloin said excitedly.
"Could this really be our chance?" Thorin asked hopefully.
Gloin nodded eagerly. Thorin's heart swelled with happiness for a moment, and it all fled when he realized his true predicament.
"We have no army, no gold, nothing to give us any chance of defeating Smaug." He stated grimly.
"Or do we?" asked a female voice behind him. Thorin's sister Dis entered the chamber accompanied by a tall man dressed in gray robes and a curved pointed hat.
"Dis! Where have you been?"
"Thorin don't be rude, we have company." She pointed out.
Thorin eyed the man in grey who quickly introduced himself: "Gandalf the grey"
"Thorin, he's here to help us reclaim Erebor" Dis stated bluntly.
"And how exactly do you propose to do this?" Thorin asked skeptically giving a pointed stare towards Gandalf.
"Greetings Thorin son of Thraine. My name is Gandalf the grey." Gandalf introduced himself nobly. "Word had reached my ear that it is time for the dwarfs of Erebor to reclaim their homeland."
"We have neither the army nor the supplies to accomplish this mission." Thorin repeated. "Unless you know how to kill a dragon, making a move on Erebor would be pointless."
"I advise you to assemble 13 of your best men and I will accompany you on this quest." Gandalf continued as if Thorin had never spoken.
All around the hall dwarves began to shout and shove, arguing over who would be assigned to the quest. All Thorin could do with his temper was join in with the rest of them, trying to make the others see why this mission was impossible. Gandalf and Dis looked at each other in shared annoyance at the group. Finally they had had enough.
"Stop this nonsense all of you" Gandalf roared in a booming voice as the room went dark.
All the dwarfs were silent in an instant. Thorin took a moment to regain his composure.
"Walk with me" Thorin said as he led Gandalf out of the hall.
"So you're a wizard?" he asked.
"Indeed I am…" Gandalf replied.
"Are you truly serious about us retaking Erebor?"
"I believe that fate is with you Thorin Okenshield." Gandalf stated. "If you do as I ask, taking back your home is as possibility"
"In that case, what do you want me to do?" Thorin asked.
"Gather together a company. When the time is right I will send you a sign."
"How will I know-" Thorin looked up but Gandalf was already gone. "Gandalf…"
With a grunt and a shrug Thorin turned to head back to the hall, and he came nose to nose with Dis.
"If my boys don't come back, Orcs will look prettier than you"
…
The dwarfs had to wait for a few months, but they used their time well. Training and planning took up all of Thorin's time. He began to hand the leadership role over to Dis, who would rule in his absence. But then he had to make a decision about who would join him. Gandalf said he only needed 13 but Thorin wasn't going to fight Smaug with those numbers.
"I don't understand why you can't just wait like Gandalf told you too." Dis told him. She was leaning against the wall with her hands crossed, watching Thorin running around the room like a wild man.
"Already told you Dis, we need help. Do you really expect me to trust that we can go up against a dragon with 13 dwarfs and a wizard?" He asked.
"I expect you to listen to the man who is the key to getting our homeland back" Dis glared back. "Thorin this might be the only guy who actually knows what he's doing. Can't you put aside your pride just this once?"
"I can't afford that Dis…"
…
"What do you mean you won't help?!" Thorin roared.
"Thorin, why would I risk my people against Smaug?" Dain replied. "I understand what you're going through-"
"No! No you don't!" Thorin interrupted. "My people have been wandering for decades, and now we have a chance to return to Erebor."
"Because some old man in grey robed with a long stick tells you so?"
"We've read the signs and we are prepared. I would not enter into this mission Dain, unless I was prepared." Thorin pleaded.
"This quest is yours and yours alone Thorin Okenshield."
…
"Stupid wizard can't even give proper directions." Thorin thought to himself.
The day after his meeting with Dain, Thorin received a letter from Gandalf with instructions for the company to meet in some random place called the "Shire". It sounded majestic when in fact it was less glorious and more farmer country. What a place to begin their mission…
Thorin had been lost for a while and just as he was about to give up, he saw the symbol on a very large and round door.
"What the hell kind of door is round?" The grumpy track continued.
It was obvious that Thorin was not in a good mood, but as he approached the door, he could hear inside: "And that's what Bilbo begins hates!" followed by roars of laughter. The prospect of meeting up with the rest of the company brightened his spirits slightly. With that in mind he raised his fist and banged on the door.
There was a slight shuffling of footsteps before the door opened to reveal Gandalf himself crouched over with a smile of welcome on his face.
"Gandalf…" Thorin smiled in return. "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way… twice… wouldn't have found it at t'all hand it not been for that mark on the door."
The some short person whom Thorin could only suspect to be one of the locals burst into outrage. "There is no mark on that door! It was painted a week ago!"
The old wizard attempted to settle down the hobbit: "There is a mark I put it there myself. Bilbo may I introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Okenshield."
"You've got to be joking." Thorin thought to himself. Out loud he mused "So… this is the hobbit."
He shared a quiet stare with Bilbo who he could assume knew nothing about the circumstance he found himself. "Tell me Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting. Axe or Sword, which is your weapon of choice?"
"Well I have some skill at conquers, if you must know." Bilbo replied smugly. Then the grin slipped off his face. "But I fail to see how that's relevant…"
"Thought as much" Thorin stated amusedly. "Looks more like a grocer than a burglar"
All the dwarves chuckled to themselves. Over the progress night, Thorin found out that Gandalf was saddling the dwarves with an extra burden for their trip.
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet and Smaug will not recognize the smell of one compared to that of a dwarfs."
And so, just as he made it clear to Balin that he planned to undertake this mission no matter what the cost, he also made it clear to Gandalf that he would not be responsible for the new companion's safety.
Although Gandalf tried to convince Bilbo of the opportunity he was invited to partake, Thorin was glad to see that nothing the old wizard said would tempt the hobbit. It was simple one less thing he had to keep track of.
That night as the dwarves settled in to rest during the last night before their quest finally began, Thorin dreamt of Nola. She was running through a field will wildflowers in her hair and laughing as she reached a hand out to him. He made a similar motion but, before he could reach her, a pail hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away. She looked back to Thorin in horror and screamed as Azog held his knife to her throat. Thorin remained frozen in place as Nola's cried for help were cut off before Azog slit her throat.
"NO!" Thorin awoke in a cold sweat. He sat up so quickly he nearly knocked heads with Balin who was leaning over him.
"It's time to go laddie."
…
The morning went by in a haze. By the end of the journey the dwarves probably wouldn't even remember the specifics. The only detail that might cause them to chuckle would be Bilbo running over the hill screaming for them to stop.
"Wait! Waaaiiittt!"
The company came to a stop as Thorin stared on in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me..."
"I signed it." Stated Bilbo proudly as he handed the contract over to Balin, the dwarf who had the longest beard.
Balin scanned the document quickly. "Everything appears to be in order. Welcome master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Okenshield."
Thorin rolled his eyes as the rest of the group laughed. "Give 'im a pony." He mumbled.
Bilbo started to protest before he was hauled off the ground and thrust into the seat of a very disgruntled looking pony. The company did not travel for long before they came to regret Thorin's order.
A series of sneezing and sniffling followed the group, making it impossible to focus on their conversations. They were brought to a halt once again.
"Stop! I've forgotten my handkerchief!" Bilbo announced.
"For Mahal's sake... I'm going to kill him before we even get out of the forest." Thorin thought.
The other dwarf's groaned in unison before Bofur ripped some cloth from his shirt. "Here... use this."
The poor hobbit looked disgusted and horrified as Gandalf informed him "You'll have to manage without pockets handkerchiefs and a good many other things Bilbo Baggins before we reach our journeys end."
…
Nola tried to get back to her feet, but she was suddenly shoved down once again by a particularly nasty Ork. Who was she kidding? They were all disgusting. Her mouth was bleeding and the dagger in her left leg was exactly pleasant either. She'd tried to protect her father from Azog's wrath and so far, it wasn't going well.
Azog had her father cornered in the throne room. Despite his hopeless predicament, Norbar still managed to stay proud.
"What do you mean they won't dig anymore!" Azog roared.
"There is nothing left in the mine and the dangers grow ever insurmountable." Norbar explained. "My people can no longer help you."
The pale ork's temper had surpassed its peak and he struck down the dwarf lord before he could say anything else. Taking a moment to see the pitiful state of his victim, Azog pondered what tactics to use next.
"Fine, if your people will not obey you, they shall obey me!"
"Dwarves will never surrender to your authority, you barbaric murderer!" Nola screamed at the top of her lungs.
She then braced herself for the swift kick aimed at her abdomen.