Chapter 3: First impressions

Authors note: Well I felt rather foolish. I must give my thanks to two authors who pointed out such a silly thing I did in the last two chapters. Completely forgot Thorin wasn't called 'Oakenshield' back before the Battle of Azanulbizar. Thank you very much and I have sorted it out now. And as for all of the support I have received on this story so far, thank you all! I hope you enjoy this now; it joins from the actual movie.

It was a quiet and peaceful evening in the realm of the Shire. The dim lights from within the various Hobbit holes tried to compete with the stars all dotted about in the sky shining like mithril in a Dwarven mine. The roads were quiet and barely anyone was about at this time of the evening. The majority of Hobbit's were either in their homes spending dinner time with their families or down the tavern drinking with friends.

Thorin Oakenshield rode on his pony through the various lanes in the town of Hobbiton. He was clueless to where he was headed and had already lost his way twice to wherever he had agreed to meet up with his company. He slowed his pony down as they passed each Hobbit hole and searched for any sign of his Dwarf brethren. Whether it be their loud singing or cheering or any Dwarvish marks on the doors. He muttered the odd curse to himself in Dwarvish every time he had stopped and found no luck. Curse that confounded Wizard Gandalf the Grey! He had been told to meet him in a Hobbit hole in Hobbiton, but had never been told which one. Now he found himself going round in circles trying to find a particular hole which would be hosting his party of Dwarves.

Thorin guided his pony along the narrow path and stopped for two young Hobbit's, a female and a male, so they could walk past him. Call it being polite if you will, but that was not how they saw it. Hobbit's did not take kindly to strangers in their towns and were often weary of their purpose to be in the Shire. The young Hobbit couple gave him rather curious but cold glares as they cautiously walked around his pony and continued off down the road. Thorin paid no attention to their petty glaring and focused his attention on finding this place Gandalf had told him to meet him at. The home of a bachelor Hobbit called Bilbo Baggins.

Finally, after passing yet another Hobbit hole, Thorin found luck was in his favour. The faint, but rather loud sound of voices came from within the hole and as Thorin got off his pony and made it up the steps leading up to the front door his suspicions were proven to be correct. There, on the bottom right-hand side of the round door, was a Dwarven mark glowing blue. It had obviously been put there by Gandalf as a guide for him and his company to find the home of the humble Hobbit who Gandalf had spoken so highly of. Now was the part where Thorin would finally meet this so called burglar who would join him and his company on their epic quest to take back Erebor. That was if he proved himself to him of course.

Just before he was about to knock on the door Thorin listened to the noisy voices from within the hole. He could hear singing, obviously deep male Dwarf voices and they sounded rather cheerful. He curled his hand into a fist and went to knock on the door when the final line of their song erupted from within the household.

"THAT'S WHAT BILBO BAGGINS HATES!"

This was the only thing he could hear before everything turned to laughter. Thorin took his opportunity to pound his fist on the door to make sure he could be heard over the various roars of laughter from his other twelve companions from within the humble dwelling. The voices from within suddenly stopped and everything went silent. Thorin awaited the door to be answered and turned his head to look upon the view from where he stood. The Shire looked extremely peaceful and rather tranquil at this time of night. It was very silent and barely a soul was out. And the stars made the night all the more beautiful. Visions like these were not often on the prince's mind anymore, for he had more pressing matters to put his mind to.

The door swiftly opened and as Thorin turned his head, a familiar face glanced down to him as the figure crouched to fit his body in the hole. Thorin barely made a smile as he turned his head back to face his acquaintance. His crossed arms unfolded as he went to enter the hole.

"Gandalf," Thorin began eyes fixing on the tall Wizard at the front door as he entered the Hobbit household. He reached up to take his cloak up barely acknowledging his Dwarf companions as they bowed before him as he made his entrance "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. I would not have found it at all if it weren't for that mark on the door."

Thorin took off his cloak and glanced over to where other Dwarves stood and gave them a small smile as the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins rushed over to the door in offence and glanced over to the door as Gandalf watched him.

"Mark? There is no mark on that door; it was painted a week ago!" The Hobbit defended as Gandalf went to shut the door behind him. Gandalf swiftly jumped in and explained to the Hobbit about the mark on the door that Bilbo was going on about.

"There is a mark," Gandalf explained pushing the round door to a permanent close "I put it there myself."

Thorin turned around expectantly watching as Bilbo fretted about his door and had already got a bad impression about the young Hobbit. He was never convinced a Hobbit could be a good burglar and didn't even know why he asked Gandalf to find the fourteenth member of their company in the first place. Gandalf had often spoke highly of the Halflings of the Shire but still Thorin failed to see what was so special about them. They were peace loving creatures who had no skill in battle or any experience with war. And these were the exact traits that Thorin Oakenshield was looking for in a burglar, not someone who could not fend for himself in a time of great peril. Already Thorin had been given a clear impression of Hobbits of the Shire, and his opinion of them did not seem a positive one.

"Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf signalled with his hand in the direction of Thorin as the Hobbit followed his hand "allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin gazed over inspecting the rather frazzled Hobbit crossing his arms as he continued to observe Bilbo with a sceptical eye. "So," he began "this is the Hobbit?" Thorin then began to circle him and Bilbo followed his gazed as it wondered about him sending chills down the Hobbit's spine. "Tell me Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting?"

Bilbo's eyes arched in confusion as Thorin brushed past him expecting an answer. "Pardon me?" Bilbo questioned.

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin continued ignoring the Hobbit's constant questions.

"Well I do have some skill at conkers. If you must know," Bilbo said rather smugly, he then noticed the looks of disapproval on several of the other Dwarves faces, including Thorin, stare at him. His face weakened and this was when he decided to finish his sentence. "But I fail to see; w-why that's relevant."

"Thought as much," Thorin crossed his arms, obviously not taking the Hobbit seriously as he smirked sarcastically towards his other companions "he looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

Thorin then entered the sitting room as to where the other Dwarves had sat down and made themselves quite at home. Young Bilbo was left rather speechless as everyone, including Gandalf, let out a chuckle at Thorin's rather unexpected outburst. Poor Bilbo was left confused and rather offended by the sudden dislike Thorin had towards him. Not two minutes since they had met and already he was being rather hostile towards him. Bilbo gazed up at Gandalf and as soon as Thorin was out of the front hall, Gandalf suddenly stopped smiling and let out a big heavy sigh as he leant his arm against the top of the wall. Bilbo noticed a look of sheer dread on the old Wizard's face, he was obviously not the only one frustrated with the Dwarf's unruly and unnecessary behaviour.

Sitting himself down at the end of the table, Thorin waited expectantly as many of his companions prepared him some food and drink after his long journey. Others, including Balin, Bofur and Gloin, seated themselves next to the Dwarf prince and waited for everyone else to also sit down so they could finally discuss business. The time for fun and drinking was now over, the plans and their business at the Hobbit hole were now going to be revealed.

There sat Thorin Oakenshield and his company of twelve Dwarves and Gandalf the Grey around the large Hobbit table with Bilbo standing behind Gandalf listening closely as each Dwarf spoke. For he was still flustered as to why thirteen Dwarves and a Wizard had randomly turned up on his doorstep only to pillage his house and steal all of his food from the, now empty, pantry. Thorin sat with a simple bowl of soup and a small spoon, this shocked Bilbo more than anything, considering all he had seen since the first Dwarf, Dwalin, turned up was nothing but bad table manners, food thrown around, ale and drinks spluttered around the room and his mother's old dishes thrown around carelessly. For the first time this evening he had seen one civilized Dwarf and for a strange reason, the others also acted more civilized while he was around. Bilbo still had no idea that he was the prince, or king, of the great kingdom of Erebor. But he would soon enough as they were now about to discuss of their plans and what part Bilbo was about to play in all of it.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin?" Balin, the eldest and wisest (or considered to be) Dwarf in the company questioned as Thorin took a spoonful of his soup and indulged every sip as if it would be his last "did they all come?"

"Aye," Thorin replied "and voiced from all seven kingdoms."

Thorin took another sip from his soup as his fellow Dwarves all muttered amongst themselves, some louder than others until a single Dwarf voice broke out louder than the others. It belonged to Balin's younger brother Dwalin. "And what do the Dwarves of the Iron Hills say?" He questioned causing a sudden silence among the others as he asked. "Is Dain with us?"

Thorin took a deep breath and placed his spoon back in the bowl of soup before answering rather glumly. "They will not come." This was followed by a couple of groans let out by various Dwarves just as Thorin explained to them what was said. "They say this quest is ours, and ours alone."

A few odd murmurs were soon followed by silence as Thorin drank some ale. Bilbo, who had stood by quietly listening to the Dwarves go on about this so called quest, stepped forward from out of the shadows behind Gandalf and decided to speak up.

"You're going on a quest?"

Gandalf immediately prevented any Dwarf remarks to be said towards the timid Hobbit and answered the Halfling "Bilbo dear fellow," he began "let us have a little more light."

Bilbo did as the Wizard insisted and went to grab a candle so he could light up the room more. Gandalf dug within his coat and grabbed a folded piece of paper buried within the grey fabric. He brought it out and as he did so he spoke to the Dwarves, but more to Bilbo than anyone.

"Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." Gandalf pointed towards the map that now lay flat on the table in front of Thorin. Bilbo came in from the side between Gandalf and Thorin and waved the candle nearby gazing curiously at the mountain that was displayed on the map with what appeared to be Dwarvish writing at the side. Bilbo peered down and read what it said at the top which was in a language he understood.

"The Lonely Mountain," Bilbo said eyes fixed on the map.

"Aye!" Spoke up Gloin from across the table receiving an eye rolling from Dori and a head shake in disagreement from Dori's brother Nori. "Oin has read the portents and the portents say, it is time."

Oin, Gloin's older brother then spoke up finishing off what his brother had told "ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it was foretold! When the Burins of Yulrin return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."

The mention of a beast had obviously caught Bilbo's attention. He turned around from out of the room and slowly made his way back in enquiring further into what Oin was talking about. "What beast?"

Bofur jumped in and quickly explained to the Halfling "well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible. The greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metal."

"Yes I know what a Dragon is," Bilbo replied nodding to Bofur who was, yet again, stating the obvious. Swiftly, the youngest of the Dwarves, Ori, stood up and decided to blurt out much to his brothers' annoyance.

"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of Dwarvish iron right up his jacksy!"

And while some of the Dwarves congratulated him for making the stand, his eldest brother Dori was not so keen on his random unnecessary outburst in an attempt to show off and pulled him to his chair ordering his younger brother. "Sit down!" He said commanded to prevent him from making an even bigger fool of himself.

Old Balin decided to speak up again after a while of silence. He sounded rather grim as he spoke about his fears of the quest. "This task would be difficult with an army behind us, but we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."

Many of the Dwarves protested against the older Dwarf obviously offended by what he had just said. "Here, who you calling dim?" One of them shouted over the growing murmurs in the room. The murmurs grew louder and louder as each Dwarf began to protest with the other. That was until young Fili, Thorin's nephew and one of the youngest in the room, decided to speak up by slamming his hand down on the table to get the others attentions.

"We may be few in number," he began with that hint of young determination glinting in his eyes and through his voice "but we're fighters. All of us. To the last Dwarf!"

Kili, Fili's younger brother then added much to Gandalf's dismay "and you forget we have a Wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of Dragons in his time!"

Gandalf felt rather embarrassed by what Kili had proclaimed him to have done, for he knew this was not true. He took his pipe out of his mouth quickly and tried to explain as each Dwarf turned their gaze upon him. He stuttered out a few words before Dori also interrupted. "Oh, no. I-I wouldn't say…"

"How many then?" Dori leapt in not giving the Wizard time to finish.

"What?" Gandalf stammered glancing in the direction where Dori sat awaiting an answer.

"How many Dragons have you killed?" Dori continued to pester the old Wizard. Thorin along with the other Dwarves gazed up to the tall old man watching him choke on the fumes of his own pipe as he tried to force himself to reply. Gandalf inwardly choked as the Dwarves began to protest.

"Go on, give us a number!" Dori exclaimed joining the other Dwarves as they arose from their chairs and began to bicker amongst themselves loudly from across the table. Bilbo watched in horror as some of the Dwarves swung fists in the air at each other from one side of the table to the other and began to cause a ruckus in his tightly, Dwarf-compacted Hobbit room. He quietly told them to stop and, obviously, it did not work. The Dwarves continued to riot around until a very impatient Thorin had grown tired among the pathetic bickering and used a loud bellow to get them to stop.

"Enough!" He cried, and as he stood up, nearly every single bickering Dwarf sat down in silence focusing their undivided attentions to him and him alone. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too?" He questioned in a much calmer tone "rumours 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?"

Many of the Dwarves cheered and agreed with Thorin with what he was saying. But before anything else could be said, old Balin broke in yet again looking towards the risk of the quest "you forget, the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain."

Hopes would have been crushed right there and then if it weren't for Gandalf who jumped in nearly straight away getting out a silver object from his cloak "that my dear Balin is not entirely true," he slowly curled the object now revealed to be a key in his hand. Thorin gazed at the key, eyes widening and mouth slightly agape. He had seen that key before now.

"How came of you by this?" Thorin asked not taking his eyes off of the key for a split second.

"It was given to me by your father," Gandalf explained "by Thrain. For safe keeping." Gandalf then passed him the key and smiled slightly "it is yours now."

Thorin examined the key with a close eye; it had been many years since he had seen it. It seemed like a new array of hope for him, for he could now enter Erebor and take back his kingdom. Fili, from across the table spoke up raising the attentions of a few next to him.

"If there is a key," he began his eyes arching "then there must be a door."

Gandalf nodded and then pointed at the map with his pipe, he pointed towards the corner which had Dwarf runes and a hand pointing towards the side of the mountain "these runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls."

Kili patted his brother on the shoulder encouragingly and smiled "There's another way in."

"Well if we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." Gandalf then let out a sigh before pointing at the map again "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. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage." Gandalf gazed over toward Bilbo who returned his gaze with one of surprise "but if we are careful, and clever, I believe that it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar," Ori broke in.

Bilbo from behind Thorin looked down at the map and nodded in agreement "hmm, and a good one too. An expert I'd imagine."

"And are you?" Gloin asked causing Bilbo's head to rise in a sudden shock. He glanced behind him to make sure that they were in fact looking at him, and they were.

"Am I what?" Bilbo questioned rather confused at the whole situation before him.

Oin, holding his ear trumpet in the right way, suddenly grinned and pointed at Bilbo while exclaiming to his fellow Dwarves "he said he's an expert!"

"What me? No, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life," Bilbo insisted to them.

Balin's face was full of an unsure gaze as he watched the Hobbit "well I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He hardly seems burglar material."

Bilbo nodded in agreement as Dwalin also broke in "Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Yet again Bilbo agreed along with the other Dwarves at these comments. And yet again the Dwarves were in uproar on the matter. Arguing from across the table with each other the bickering seemed endless until Gandalf lost his nerve and stood up, making the room go dark and his voice go heavy as he rose from his chair.

"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is," the room went back to normal again as the darkness created by Gandalf soon turned to light again. His voice was less dark and his tone became that same old croaky yet cheerful one again. It had startled a few of the bickering Dwarves to see Gandalf do that, but he was after all a Wizard. He could have done a lot worse if he wanted to.

Gandalf then went on to explain why he had chosen Bilbo "Hobbit's are remarkably light on their feet. 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 a Hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage." In the background Bilbo tried to protest against what Gandalf was proclaiming but couldn't get his words out. Gandalf then looked down to Thorin who still did not look convinced that Bilbo was the right person to be their burglar; he did not trust Gandalf's decision even if he was to be considered one of the wisest in Middle-Earth. There was something about this Hobbit that didn't persuade him otherwise, he thought of him as a burden and nothing more. That and the fact he would affect the quest entirely if they dragged him along. Thorin inwardly groaned and frowned as Gandalf sat down and continued. "You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There is a lot more to him than appearance would suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know." Gandalf then gazed back up towards the Halfling "including himself."

Thorin, and many others, gave looks of disapproval despite the way Gandalf proclaimed Bilbo was the ideal choice. Gandalf had noticed this and gave Thorin a rather sincere gaze as he continued to speak. "You must trust me on this."

Thorin's disapproval soon turned to that of acceptance knowing full well he would not win the argument with the wise old Wizard. And they said Dwarves were stubborn, they obviously had not bumped into Gandalf the Grey of late. "Very well, we'll do it your way" Thorin finally said then ushering Balin to give Bilbo a piece of paper he had to sign. Bilbo let out tiny protests behind him obviously not in the frame of mind to go on the quest let alone sign anything. "Give him the contract."

Balin stood up from his seat and went to hand the contract over to a rather mixed up Bilbo. He had spent all of his time trying to persuade the company not to let him go on this quest, but still they ignored him and continued on anyway as if he had no say in the matter. Balin pointed down at the paper as he spoke.

"It's just the usual," Balin began "summary about pocket expenses. Time required. Remuneration. Funeral arrangements so forth," Balin then gave Thorin the contract who literally shoved it into Bilbo's stomach rather harshly. Bilbo's mouth stammered at the word 'funeral arrangements'. And even though Thorin had his back turned from the young Hobbit, he knew. He knew that even though he had agreed to him joining the quest, he would still be a burden to them all. All but Gandalf anyway.

"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo jumped back after being shoved the contract in his stomach. He then opened up the contract and began to read it aloud to himself as the other Dwarves, including Thorin, observed the Halfling as he continued to pester over what was happening to him this evening.

Thorin arose from his chair and leant in towards Gandalf and whispered in his ear quietly. This was one thing he needed to say to the Wizard, it had been on his mind since Gandalf had revealed the young burglar to him. He knew it would not be easy for Gandalf to accept but he would have to take it into consideration. "I cannot guarantee his safety," Thorin murmured making sure the Hobbit could not hear him. Gandalf gazed over to the Dwarf and his eyes dimmed slightly, he knew this was coming but didn't like to admit it.

"Understood," Gandalf replied keeping his eyes fixed in front of him away from Thorin.

"Nor will I be responsible for his fate," Thorin added causing Gandalf's facial features to look rather grim. His cheeks paled slightly and Thorin noticed as Gandalf finally came to grips with reality. For Bilbo did stand little chance of making through this quest alive. He had no skills in battle, he had claimed to have never stolen anything and was used to being in the comfort of his own home. Gandalf chose to ignore the great possibility that harm could come to the Hobbit on this quest and wasn't truly considering the risk of bringing Bilbo on the mission until now. After a long pause Gandalf finally got the courage to give a small smile and turn his head in the direction of Thorin and nod in response.

"Agreed," Gandalf said barely a whisper. Then both Thorin and Gandalf watched as Bilbo read the contract to himself muttering odd words to himself at the same time.

"Tailors cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit if any… seems fair," Bilbo muttered causing Gandalf to chuckle in encouragement to the scowling Thorin. But it did not work. "Um, present company… shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as accompanied or not limited to… lacerations." Bilbo then stopped reading and looked closely, re-reading the small print a moment before reading on "evisceration?" Bilbo then flipped over the contract and read another part before looking up rather shell-shocked by it "Incineration?"

"Ooh aye he'll melt the flesh off your bones in a blink of an eye!" Bofur spoke up rather a bit too cheerfully for the situation.

"Oh," was Bilbo's only reply. He went rather quiet and his skin tone paled dramatically, some of the Dwarves began to grow a bit of concern towards the overwhelmed Hobbit.

"You alright laddie?" Balin enquired noticing Bilbo rest his hands on his legs as he went to take rather deep breaths.

"Huh? Oh, yes," Bilbo then let out a few short breaths before continuing "feel a bit faint."

Bofur then stood up leaning himself on the wall as he gave out a rather unhelpful remark for Bilbo "think furnace, with wings."

"I need air," Bilbo muttered holding his hand against his mouth as he continued to grow pale in the face.

"Flash of light," Bofur continued practically ignoring the fact the Hobbit looked as if he were about to be ill "siring pain, then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash!"

Bilbo then regained his full height trying to recover from his sickly stance. Gandalf and the others watched cautiously from within the large Hobbit room. Bilbo tried to regain his confidence but of course it backfired on him when he fell backwards and collapsed on the floor before them.

"No," Bilbo said before blacking out on the floor. Gandalf rose from his chair in the doorway and gave Bofur a rather dirty glare.

"Oh very helpful Bofur."

Thorin watched the entire thing before him and simply shook his head and crossed his arms in disapproval. He was growing more and more contempt for the Hobbit by the second. It wasn't because he was a simple peace loving Hobbit, but because Gandalf had recruited him for this quest, in which he had no idea what he was doing or about to go into. He had not used, let alone picked up a weapon before. He was inexperienced with being a burglar, for he had claimed he had never stolen a thing in his life. And the Hobbit even showed doubt in himself and claimed he should not go on the quest. The only road block between the Dwarves and Bilbo was Gandalf. He had insisted Bilbo Baggins was the perfect choice, but Thorin failed to see this. All he saw was a pampered, and spoiled Hobbit who took advantage of his peaceful lifestyle, had no experience in battle and would only complain about not being in the comfort of his own home once he stepped a foot out of the door.

But on the other hand, deep down, Thorin had a tiny bit of respect for the Hobbit's lifestyle. All he wanted for his people was a peaceful life, but all he found in store for them were constant battles with their enemies and having great beasts attack and take over their kingdoms. The Dwarves were not like the Hobbits of the Shire. They were not handed peace of a silver platter and were not able to live out their lives without picking up a sword or axe. This was why Thorin had such contempt for the young Halfling. He had the life Thorin Oakenshield could only dream of.

As soon as Bilbo would come around from his short fainting spell, Gandalf would try and persuade the Hobbit to come on the quest, despite the things Bofur had said to put him off. Thorin had doubts that Bilbo would sign the contract, and he wouldn't be so bothered if he didn't. He'd rather go on a quest with people who knew full well what they were getting into and were prepared for the worst. Not one who would be forced to go because of some old Wizard. But Thorin would wait and see. He remained at the Hobbit hole that night waiting until Bilbo finally decided if he would join them, and made sure the other Dwarves were well rested and fed before the start of their journey the next morning.

Authors note: Yes, I practically quoted that entire scene. You don't know how long it took me to watch that scene and write this chapter. Oh and I know there are some mistakes in here because some Dwarves, Oin for example, have funny accents that you cannot understand when they mutter. So once the DVD comes out I shall re-watch this scene and confirm it with the subtitles and edit where it needs editing. In the meantime please review and tell me what you think. The next few chapters will just follow the movie as normal but I promise soon Thobera will make an appearance and you will not be disappointed by her rather dramatic entry.