A/N: I do not own anything Hobbit or LOTR related. I only own Arien.

Son of Thrain

Everyone gathered into the front room as Gandolf answered the door. A Dwarf who I haven't seen in many, many years walked in the door.

"I thought you said this place was easy to find. I lost my way…twice." Thorin Oakinshield took his coat off and handed it to Kili and smiled at him. "I wouldn't have found it, if it weren't for the mark on the door." He turned to Gandolf as Bilbo pushed his way to the front.

"Mark? What mark? There is no mark on that door. I had it painted a week ago!" Bilbo pointed at the door.

"There is a mark, Master Baggins. I put it there myself." He paused. "Bilbo Baggins, I would like you to meet the leader of our company… Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin looked at the hobbit and I could see the judgment in his face. "So this is our Burglar…" He sighed and started to circle the Halfling. "What's your weapon of choice? Sword or Ax?"

Bilbo hesitated for a second. "Well, I do have some skills at conkers." He made his voice deeper, making me grin in amusement. "If you must know… But I don't see why it is relevant." He cleared his throat a little bit while taking a deep breath.

"Thought as much. Seems more as a grocer than a burglar." Thorin said causing some to chuckle.

I decided to speak up for the hobbit's defense. "Now you and I both know that looks can be deceiving." I stepped up and walked in front of him with a grin.

His serious face broke into a wide smile at the site of me. "Arien," I heard him breath my name and my grin broke into a smile. "You don't know how good it is to see you." He walked up and scooped me into a big embrace, picking me up well off the ground. "It's been so long, my friend." He sat me down.

"It has been." I looked at him and sat my hands on his shoulders as he did the same. "It's so good to see you, Thorin. Though you've grown a couple of grey hairs since I've last seen you." I jested at him. He grinned at me.

"It happens to the best of us. Though you don't look like you've aged a day. And you're how many summers older?"

I looked up in fake thought before smiling at him. "50, if my calculations serve me. It is my mother's blood keeping me alive, I think."

He gripped me on my shoulder and I turned us towards the dining room. "Sit. I'll get you some left over stew."

"Thank you, Arien." He sat at the head of the table with Gandolf on his left and an empty seat to his right.

I sat a bowl and a cup of ale in front of him as I sat down on his right. Dwalin spoke up. "What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms."

We all smiled at the good news. "And what did the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"

Thorin hesitated before speaking. "They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone." Everyone frowned.

Bilbo decided to speak up. "You're going on a quest?"

Gandolf changed the subject. "Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light. Bilbo left to get another candle as Gandolf pulled out a piece of parchment which held a map of Erebor. "Far to the East…over ranges and rivers…beyond Mirkwood and Laketown…lies a single, solitary peak."

Bilbo gazed at the map and I saw glint of adventure in his eyes. "The Lonely Mountain." He spoke.

"Aye, Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time." Gloin told us.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the Mountain, as it has been foretold," Oin said. "'When the birds of Yore return to Erebor, the reign of the Beast will end.'"

Bilbo looked up. "Beast? What Beast?"

Bofur decided to explain around his pipe as I stared into my drink as memories flashed into my mind. Burning. The smell of burnt flesh and the flapping of giant wings rang in my ears and was burned into my mind. The feel of a hand gripping mine broke me out of my vivid memories.

"…Extremely fond of precious metals." Bofur's voice rolled into my ears. I looked up at Thorin as he's hand was the one that woke me from my stupor. He looked into my eyes for a second before winking. I smiled a small grin.

Ori all of a sudden jumped up out of his chair. "I'm not afraid! I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!"

I laughed as Dori forced him back into his seat. I looked to Balin as he spoke. "The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number of just 14 of the best, nor brightest."

A couple of them looked offended and started to argue. I shook my head at them as I leaned back in my seat.

Fili spoke as the others got quiet. "We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last Dwarf!" Everyone smiled at the encouraging words. I looked to Thorin and saw a hint of pride in his smile.

Kili put in his say, "And you forget, we have a Wizard in our company. Gandolf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."

I grinned at Gandolf as I knew for a fact that he hasn't killed any dragons. "Yes, Gandolf. Have you?" I asked.

He started to stutter. "Oh, well…No, I wouldn't say…"

Dori leaned forward in his seat. "How many then?"

"What?"

Dori persisted. "Well, how any dragons have you killed?"

Gloin demanded an answer. "Go on. Give us a number!"

Gandolf started to choke on his some as Thorin decided to change the subject and interrupt their questions. "Atkât! If we have read these signs…do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The Dragon, Smaug, has not been seen for 60 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?" Thorin's voice started to rise and I saw the Dwarves' face brighten with hope. "Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?! Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!" The Dwarves cheer and their spirits are lifted. I smiled at the happiness and hope that Thorin enforced in these Dwarves.

Balin decided to damper everyone's mood. "You forget. The door is sealed. There is no way into the mountain." Everyone started to frown.

I patted Thorin on his forearm in comfort.

Gandolf spoke. "That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." He then produced a Dwarfish made key. Thorin looked at it in awe.

"How came you by this key?" He asked.

"It was given to me by your father, Thrain, for safe keeping. It is yours now." Gandolf hands Thorin the key. He stares at it for a moment.

Fili spoke up with new hope. "If there is a key, there must be a door."

Thorin turns to me and speaks softly. "Arien, I wish for you to keep the key safe. I trust you."

I look at him in shock. "Are… Are you sure, Thorin? It's yours."

"I'm positive Arien. I trust you the most out of everyone."

I take it in my hand softly. "I'll keep it safe with my life." My hand brushes against his and I pull the key from his hand. I wrap the string around my neck and tuck the key down my tunic to hide it.

I smiled at Thorin and gripped his hand. "I'll keep it safe, Thorin."

I looked to Gandolf as he spoke. "- The task I have mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, it can be done."

"That's why we need burglar." I said looking pointedly at Bilbo.

He spoke up. "And a good one, too." He nodded. "An expert, I'd imagine."

Oin put is trumpet to his ear and spoke to Bilbo. "And are you?"

Bilbo looked confused. "Am I what?" He looked from Oin to Gandolf.

Oin looked excited because he didn't hear him correctly. "He says he's an expert!"

Bilbo started to become panicked. "Me? Oh, no, no. I'm not a burglar, I've never stolen a thing in my life."

Balin agreed. "He's hardly burglar material." Bilbo nods in agreement.

"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin said looking at Bilbo with a sense of pity.

Bilbo nods again. The Dwarves begin arguing again. Gandolf looked at the Dwarves and grew angry. He stood and his magic darkened the room, stopping the fight. "Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar. Then a burglar he is!" Everyone stops at once.

A/N: I decided to give you a long chapter. Hope you guys like it. Thanks to all the follows, reviews and likes. Please review more. See ya later guys!