Hello my followers and fellow readers I am back I have not abandon this just family life and school has been filling up my time
Bold-for singing
Italic-for someone's thoughts
Raven P.O.V
"Gandalf" the dwarf walked in "I thought you said this place would be easy to find, I lost my way twice." Dori and Ori bowed their heads to the dark-haired dwarf that perked up my curiosity about this dwarf
He unclasped his dark brown cloak "wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door." I looked at him and the first thing I noticed was he wore some sort of chain mail over his shirt okay this guy must be very important if he has chain mail on son of a politician or lord maybe? But his clothes looked plain but his hair was well kept and he is light blue eyes that made him look majestic but there was something else in those eyes something that looked so familiar where have I see these type of eyes before. then I looked and the blond dwarf Filet? Fern? no Fili that his name I look back at the dark haired stranger they have the same eyes not brothers his father maybe? then I at Fili brother Kili he did look like him just a bit but not enough he must be their uncle
"Mark?" Bilbo objected pushing his way through Dwalin Dori and Ori breaking my trail of thought. "there is no mark on that door, it was painted a week ago!" Gandalf turned around and shut the door behind him preventing Bilbo from seeing the mark "There is a mark; I put it there myself." Gandalf explained patiently "Bilbo Baggins and Raven Castilian, allow me to introduce, the leader of our company Thorin Oakenshield."
He look at me I bowed my head in respected he study me like I was a puzzle I tried to read his facial expression if he approved of me or not but I couldn't it was like trying to read a brick wall. Damn! Note to self never play poker with him Thorin look at Gandalf and slightly nodded in approval them turned his attention to Bilbo.
"So, this is the hobbit. Tell me Mr. Baggins having done much fighting?" Thorin said while walking around Bilbo
"Pardon me?" Bilbo frowned not really understanding the question.
"Ax or sword?" Thorin asked in a louder voice. "What's your weapon of choice?" "Well I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."
"Thought as much." Thorin turned to Gandalf , a slight smirk on his face. "he look like a grocer then a burglar." the rest of the dwarfs laugh
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that most likely going to leave cut to stop me from saying something sarcastic to Thorin then I let go of my cheek as the dwarves left following Thorin out of the entrance hall none of them seemed to noted me glaring dagger at at the back of their leader head
what an oversize freaking a-hole!
"it would be wise for you not to anger him." Said Gandalf as if reading my thought I shot him a no shit look "as long he doesn't insult Bilbo again." I said "Or anyone for that matter." I muttered under my breath as I followed them to the dinning hall.
I stayed in the atrium while Bilbo stood behind Gandalf as the wizard in dwarves sat down at the table which I didn't mind standing I rested my left forearm agents the wall as support I remained quiet as the dwarves took their seats and talked about their trips to bag end as Thorin ate a bowl chicken noodle soup and drank a mug of ale the three small candle lightly lit up the room just enough so I could make out everyone's faces but it gave off a creepy haunted look
Then the confutation change.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin was asking Thorin. "Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin answered Seven for the dwarf lords in their hall of stone I shook my head turned out the conversation as I looked around to see where the voice was nothing was there I shrugged my shoulders are focused on the conversation again "What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say, is Dain with us?" ask Dwalin "they will not come." Thorin replied after a pause the dwarves muttered in disappointment
"they said this quest is are and are alone." so there's no backup should we fail that just terrific
"you're going on quests?" asked Bilbo not hiding the concern and worry in his voice Gandalf look over his shoulder "Bilbo, my dear fellow let us have a little more light." I left and grabbed a lit candle with its holder and passed it to Bilbo holding it in his right hand as Gandalf had unfurled a tan map with strange letters and a picture of a mountain and something red on the very top I couldn't make it out. for where I was.
"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." said Gandalf pointing at the map "The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo reads slowly
"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time." Said Gloin who had a long earth brown beard and mustache that thing reminded me of a lion's mane this caused some of the dwarfs to sigh and or roll their eyes but Gloin nodded to Oin his brother who had a long beard as well but had just braided that crawled at the end with his grayish white hair and a ear trumpet for his right ear "Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erabor, the reign of the beast will end."
"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo questioned with wide eyes.
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age." Bofur informed with a grin as he smoked his pipe. "Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals-" but Bilbo cut him off "Yes, I know what a dragon is thanks." I wasn't scared because there was several hundred possibly thousands miles separating me and the dragon but I did feel uneasy about it I had seen dragon in films and in art so I had somewhat of a mental image of what Smaug would look like big lizard with wing pouting from his back.
Then Ori stood up "I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!" Said Ori several of the other dwarves began to cheered,
Dori hissed, "Sit down!" I couldn't help but smile at young Ori courage in him I felt a pang of sadness for the young dwarf some strange reason, but then Balin spoke "the task would be difficult enough with an army behind us." His voice a little side and defeated "but we just number thirteen of the best, nor brightest." Many of the dwarves began to object, monthly taking offense to what Balin said
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" Fili practically shouted and slamming his hand on the table for dramatic effect well he does have a point most of them had been train in one or more types of weaponry apart from me
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company." Kili spoke out. "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." I raised a questioning eyebrow as Gandalf pretends to choke on smoke to avoid the question as dwarves all jumped to their feet, arguing The sound was hard for my ears remained me one too many times when I had my headphones in my ears with the music turned up to loud I raised my thumb and pointed finger ready to give a sharp whistle.
When Thorin stood up and yelled 'Shazara!' Which I guess meant silence since the rest of the company when quiet and sat back down without other word about my hand back down my side back "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? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du bekar! Du bekar!"
all the dwarves began to cheer as Thorin sat back down in his chair Wow he sure know how to give a speech I'll give him that
but I still didn't like him. "You forget: the front gate is sealed." Balin said quickly There is no way into the mountain."
Seriously, what type of idiotic moron makes a one-way entrance to a vast city of wealth you might as well have a giant sign for thieves saying please steal my gold jewels or whatever that may be in that mountain
"That, my dear Balin, Is not entirely true." Gandalf said Twirling his fingers, Gandalf produced a dwarfish key, ornately wrought. Ah, so there is another way
"How came you by this?" Thorin said in wonder. "It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now," "If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili stated the obvious.' I rolled my eyes Gee I never would've guessed?
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf said while using his pipe to point to a set of runes on the left side of the map. "There's another way in!" Kili gave a large grin. 'Thank you Mr. Capt. Obvious" I muttered under my breath "Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gandalf
Like the gate of that lead the Fellowship down into the underground city with that fire demon I shiver at that thought "the answer lies somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it, but there are others in middle earth who can the task I have in mind will acquire a great deal for stealth, and no small amount of courage, but if we are careful and clever I believe it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori cut in pointing at Bilbo. "Hm, a good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine." Bilbo put in
I lightly chuckled because he had yet put the pieces together that he was the burglar "And are you?" Gloin asked while all the other dwarves went quiet, waiting for his response Bilbo over shoulder see if this burglar was standing behind him "Am I what?" Bilbo frowned, "he said he's an expert! Hey hey!" Oin cheered while several of the other dwarves laughed.
"M-Me? No, no, no, no, no." Bilbo panicked. "I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life." I lightly shook my head of course he must had stolen the cookies from the jar as kid but stealing a cookie without get caught, but stealing from a dragon were two different things entirely, one you only had to worry about getting a lecture and get grounded for a week the other hand you would have to worry about getting third-degree burn and scarred for life or death
"I have to agree with Mr. Baggins." Balin sighed "he's hardly burglar material." I flinched at that fact it was true he didn't have any experience under his belt. But he could learn given time
"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves.' He glanced at Bilbo and then me I glared daggers back at him no called my friend helpless I was already irritated from Thorin comment about Bilbo
'Never judge book 's by its cover Mr. Dwalin because you might be surprised on what you find." I said in the most calm voice I could muster Dwalin raised an eyebrow I could have sworn that a corner of his mouth twitch
then the dwarves started to argue among each other again over me and Bilbo whether or not we should come
you are not part of the company yet you are not part of the company yet keep me from joining in
I heard parts of the conversation like "we need him." "he/they going to get themselves killed" as long as we don't do anything too stupid or dangerous
"he does know how to properly use a sword." someone said in the back I smiled. At least someone in the group had some faith in me
Then Gandalf, stood to his full height and darkness began to spread over the group. I felt like I was get encuted like when someone zap me after walking on thick carpet while wearing shocks.
The scared look on all their faces with absolutely priceless damn! I wish I had my camera, oh wait I do.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is." Gandalf's voice was deep and power; it sent a shiver down my spine and someone had just dumped a full bucket of ice water on me. that stop me from grabbing my Ipod
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet." Gandalf's voice returned to normal and the darkness disappeared. "In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this comeny, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins and Raven as his companion, as Raven said there's a lot more to them than appearances suggest, and they got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including themselves." I raised an eye brow companion more like a body guard
"You must trust me on this." Gandalf said to Thorin I bit the bottom of my lip silence was nerve-racking "Very well." I let go of my bottom lip and let out a small breath that I didn't know that I was holding.
Thorin said after a long moment of silence. "We will do it your way give them the contract." I saw Noir look at me and he was smiling at me I raised an eyebrow at him. "It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."said Balin
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo squeaked. I tore my gaze from the dark hair dwarf glanced over the company, and noticed several of them staring at me as if a was a puzzle they haven't yet solved.
Bilbo step back into the atrium and I did to I looked over his shoulder reading the contract a aloud.
"Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fifteenth of total profit, if any. Seems fair. Eh, Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence there of including but not limited to lacerations ..." Bilbo reads the word slow and drawn out. "evisceration … incineration?" At the last word, Bilbo turns to look at the group of dwarves and Gandalf, with you have to be kidding me look.
"Well we are going up against possible fire drake so getting burned is part of package deal." I said aloud
"Oh, aye lad, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur said lazily. I looked over at him with a no shit look I thought about it for a moment there were worse ways to go then imaging
"You all right, laddey?" Balin asks, concerned. I turn my attention back to Bilbo who are now began to look a little bit green he bent over, looking more and more pale and nauseated. "Uh, yeah... Feel a bit faint." Bilbo said faintly. "Bilbo you're right" I asked concerned was in my right hand lightly on his shoulder he nodded I let go
"Think furnace, with wings." Bofur added on "Air, I-I-I need air." he gasped. Oh shit he's going on panic attack if this keeps up
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash."
I let my hand go the shoulder and turned to face the hat wearing dwarf "please stop it was going to pass out or have panic attack."
"Hmmm." Bilbo straightens up, taking deep breaths, trying to compose himself "Bilbo." worry in my voice
"Nope." His eyes roll in the back of his head and legs gave out under him
I caught him mid-fall I pick him up bribe style
I glared at Bofur but I close my eyes I would have said something but Bilbo was getting heavier by the second
walked away muttering under my breath about dwarves in their lack of manners or need of
placeing Bilbo gently in his chair in the parlor and made a cup of chamomile tea and gave it to when he came round Bilbo thanked me and I left the room when Gandalf came in to talk with Bilbo I use that time to walk around till I found the contract and sighted my full name and folded it back so no one would happen to see my name Because Reyna was too much like girls name and I highly doubted any of them would want to see the contract but it wouldn't be hard for one of them to connect the dots if they saw it
When I came back to the parlor Bilbo was still in his chair and the chair to his opposite was vacant
"hey you." sat in the chair opposite of Bilbo's "so they want us to go with them to steal back the gold from an overgrown lizard who is most likely dead or gone." I said carefully not mention the word fire or Dragon "I don't think I'll be going " I raise an eyebrow "why not?" "I am a Baggins of bag end I just can't go running off into the blue." "Bilbo" I sighed I knew he had wanted to have adventurer like his mother had in her youth but I didnt think this was what he had in mind "pleases can you have to come with me I signed it the contract I would bored out of my skull." not to mention I may slap one of them up side
"you can't go if you leave a break my promise to the Rangers." He said concerned I'm cut him off before he could say another word
"You have fulfilled that promise my friend, I am better now than I was when I first came to bag end all those weeks ago, but I made a new promise to the dwarves now." I said gently I sighed and looked at Bilbo I still saw the bit of doubt on what I had just said
"Bilbo a friend once told me that every adventure begins with a single step of courage that only you can make." I glanced my eyes down then back up at Bilbo
Bilbo looked down examining the cup of tea before answering "I need to think on it, good night Raven." "Sweet dreams." Bilbo left the room, but I knew that he was going to come otherwise Tolkien would have not call one of his books the hobbit for no reason.
I sat there listening to the firewood cracking
my heart ache remembering Rose word she was always sweet and knew how to encourage me when I was unsure about something Alana fiercely protective of us and and blunt and not sugarcoated the facts it unless we really didn't need it Jade made me laugh with her sharp tough and twisted sense of humor
I stood up and walked into my bedroom and started to pack when I was done I had two set of clothes shocks a pair of gray BOOTS a sleeping rug and a small pillow my leather brown journal and some quills and bottles of ink a book about Beren and Luthien and their adventures and some books about the wild animal's that lived in world and basic plants and their uses and how to identify them the two Bilbo gave me as a gift everything that I could think of me needing that fit into a large brown pack and I set out some clothes for tomorrow morning then I wrote a letter to Bilbo I cried a bit
place separate letter to the gaffer mail box outside who lived next door on what should happen if Bilbo should not return from this adventure within two years on my way back in
Fili and Kili weapons caught my attention then my stomach dropped I remembered I did not have any weapons of my own and I highly doubted one of them would lend me a dagger or small ax oh shit what I'm going to do?
"do not worry about that my dear." I spun around to see Gandalf what is up with is guy and know what I'm thinking
"just make sure you are at the Green Dragon at 8 o'clock in the morning." "oh thank you." I managed to say before going back to my bedroom to double check everything my bag when I was satisfied that I had everything I put it at the pack at the foot of the bed when I heard humming somewhere in far part of the house I was curious walked out of my bedroom into the atrium and through the kitchen and stopped in the doorway Gandalf was to my right I rested my left forearm agents the wall I silently listen to their song
Thorin started sing
Far over the Misty Mountains cold
The dungeons deep caverns old
We must away ere break of day
Then Balin joined in
To find are long forgotten gold
Then several of them joined in now while the rest of them hummed
The pines were roaring on the heights
The wind was moaning in the night
The fire was red it flaming it spread
The trees like torches blazed with light
I blinked back tears their song progressed when the last note faded into the night I fled back to my room as soon the as I close the door and my body began trembled I struggled for breath each desperate of their only to be let way by a sob I let the tears flowed down my cheeks as a covered my mouth and sink down to the floor. and my body jerk and gasped for air
My heart ached the song was beautiful filled with sadness lost and longing for having their home taken away from them by the Dragon I knew all too well of that pain
it never occurred to me that we shared it I cried not myself for the pain to me but also 13 dwarves and their family and friend's to having their home ripped away and I felt a pang of envy that they did have a chance to get their home back.
I sat there for what seemed to be hours till the tears stop coming and my through was dry then I got to my feet
I change into my low cut night shirt and remove the wrap for my chest I walked over to the sink and washed my face and got a drink of water when I was finished.
I took a long look in the minor I saw a girl with same face same hair except for her eyes that once shimmered with mirth and happiness now look dull, puffy and blood-shot from crying
I glanced down to my collarbone a visible light line where that orc had cut me the constant reminder of that night I left for my bed
I left for my bed
I close my eye as I lay as hunted images played through my mind, my friends body's lying in pools blood eyes open looking at me with a pleading look or Alana scream or face twisted in pain or those orcs and that earthshaking cry that still ringing in my ears I shook my head pushing those memories away
Part of me wanted to tell someone but the only person, and how could I tell sweet innocent Bilbo that who had been kind and polite to me since the day I met him, how could I put that kind of horror in his mind.
I groaned as I pulled the covers to my waist I extended my left arm under my pillow till my knuckles all most touch the head-board and put my right arm on my stomach and took a deep breath and close my eyes trying to think of something else like the dream of the village I didn't like it, but it was far better than dreaming of the night of the fire
Whew 4,000 words
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Till next time my beloved followers - Angel