Chapter 4
"Unexpected Guests and Misconceptions"
When Torshar awoke completely around midday, she was alone in her bed with a note pinned to her shirt. Smiling, she unpinned it and held it up so she could read.
Torshar,
Forgive my sudden departure for I did not want to disturb your peaceful slumber. I will be going to Ered Luin to establish a meeting as Gandalf has suggested. Hopefully, the seven families will join together to destroy the dragon. I look forward to our next meeting and hope it is not so brief.
Until we meet again…
-Thorin
Her heart beat at an unusual rhythm at the meaning behind his note.
'He actually wants to see me again…!' she thought excitedly as she got out of bed, hugging the note to her chest; trusting the day was going to be wonderful.
Many months later, Torshar was going about her business in Bree one afternoon when a familiar figure walked past its gates, "Gandalf!" she called as she jogged over to where he had stopped at the sound of his name.
"Torshar, how wonderful to see you again, my dear! How are you?"
"I am well! Have you heard any news from Thorin in Ered Luin?" she asked hopeful; knowing the wizard had passed by based on the direction he had come from.
The old man smiled and began to search his pockets, "Now what did I do with that letter? Aha! Here you are my dear!" he stated and handed her an envelope with her name written in Thorin's hand. With a little too much excitement, she tore open the envelope and gingerly opened the letter.
Dear Torshar,
I hope this letter finds you well. There is so much to talk about and I wish to tell you the results of the meeting in Ered Luin but it would be too long of an explanation to speak of in one letter. Hopefully, Gandalf has delivered this to you, if not, find him; he will know what to do next. These past few months have been tortuous without you or your songs. The minstrels here would not know a battle song from a love song if it bit them in the arse! I cannot wait to see you again.
Your Dearest Friend,
Thorin
"What does he mean, 'Gandalf will know what to do next'?" she asked the wizard as she looked up at him with confused eyes.
"Gather your things and meet me back here in one hour, Torshar. I will explain then, I promise." The magic-wielder stated and the versifier nodded then headed back into town to collect her belongings from the Prancing Pony.
At the allotted time and place, the wizard and the dwarf met up except this time old Gandalf had acquired a horse for himself and a pony for Miss Torshar. Once they were ready, the singer thanked her friends who dismissed it with a smile and the pair set out for the East Farthing Woods on the outskirts of the Shire.
It was dark by the time they arrived at their destination and were greeted by eight dwarf men. At first, Torshar was overwhelmed because she had never heard so many similar names before; Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, and Gloin.
"It's an honor to meet you, milady! Your brother, Nalor spoke of you often when he returned from his hunting trips and would stop at the Ferine Inn for a drink on his way home! I'm Bofur, by the way." A brunette with a funny hat introduced and shook her hand. The rest did the same until Ori who, appeared to be the youngest member other than herself, stepped up and held her hand.
"I am sorry about your family, Miss Torshar… Thbir and Nalor were my closest friends…" he trailed off as he pulled a sketch book out of a pocket in his coat and opened it to two particular pages then handed it to her, "I drew those three days before… Before I received the news…" he held back tears as did she while her gaze never left the portraits of her brothers with full thick beards, Thbir with blue eyes while Nalor had green, and with two of the biggest smiles ever seen in Middle-Earth.
"They were happy… Weren't they, Ori?" she asked with a sad smile as she closed the book and handed it back to the young dwarf, "You'll be a great artist one day with those talents, my friend."
"I meant no disrespect, my lady!"
"No, it's fine, Ori. Thank you for sharing that with me… I had nearly forgotten what they looked like…" she confessed.
"Alright, dear friends, it is time for us to depart to our burglar's place of residence. Pack up and ready the ponies." Gandalf ordered lightly and Torshar finally took notice that she had not gotten off her pony. It did not matter now for the company was already on its way into the Shire and heading for a door that the singer knew all too well. A round green door with a yellow brass knob in the center and a glowing rune that she suspected was put there by Gandalf.
Once the ponies were boarded for the night, the group of nine dwarves and a wizard huddled before the door and Dori knocked. From inside they heard, "No, no, there's nobody home! Go away and bother somebody else! There's far too many dwarves in my dining room as it is! If this is some clot-head's idea of a joke..! Ha ha! I can only say, it is in very poor taste!" the master complained as he moved towards the door and when he opened it the eight dwarf men fell through and landed on the floor in a pile.
"Get off, you big lump!" one of them cried because Bombur, who was the biggest when it came to size and stature, landed atop all of them.
The wizard poked his head in and was addressed by an annoyed hobbit dressed in his bathrobe, "Gandalf…" he then took notice of the female who stood beside him, "Torshar! It is wonderful to see you again! Come in!" he gestured and helped her cross the threshold of men in his doorway.
"It is good to see you as well, Bilbo! How is your mother?"
"She is well! Been asking about when you were coming back to the Shire! You were here… A year ago for her birthday weren't you?" he asked.
"I was the only performer." She laughed. Before they could continue their conversation, hearty laughter echoed from the pantry/dining room area. The hobbit was quick to investigate and to discover twelve dwarf men rearranging his dining room and taking every piece of food from his pantry.
While all the craziness was occurring, Torshar had snuck into the living room for a tiny bit of quiet as she pulled out the letter again, I cannot wait to see you again. Your Dearest Friend, Thorin. She smiled again as she stood before the fire and held the letter close to her heart. All of a sudden she heard deep voices singing.
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks,
Smash the bottles and burn the corks,
Chip the glasses and cracks the plates,
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Cut the cloth, tread on the fat,
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat,
Pour the milk on the pantry floor,
Splash the wine on every door!
Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl,
Pound them down with a thumping pole,
When you're finished if they are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" they sang making her smile because it was undoubtedly driving her hobbit friend mad. Laughter followed the song as Torshar poked her head into the kitchen to see stacks of clean dishes and a disbelieving Bilbo. But the laughter soon died when a deep pounding on the door silenced them.
Gandalf was the only one who dared to speak, "He is here."
Everyone quickly gathered in the entryway as the wizard opened the door to reveal a weary looking Thorin, "Gandalf… I thought you said this place would be easy to find? I lost my way, twice." He stated as he stepped in and began to remove his cloak, "Would not have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
"Mark? There's no mark on that door, it was painted a week ago!" Bilbo stated irritated.
The Istari member was quick to step in, "There is a mark… I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company; Thorin Oakenshield."
The dwarf leader handed his cloak off as he gazed at the small hobbit, "So… This is the hobbit? Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"
"Pardon me?"
"Ax or sword? As your weapon of choice."
"Well, I do have some skill at conkers if you must know… But I fail to see… Why that's relevant."
"Thought as much… He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." The nobleman smirked and received a laugh from the company except Torshar.
She attempted to step up to defend him, "Thorin, I believe it is of no consequence what he appears to be; as long as he carries out his duty." This made the prince turn towards her in confusion.
"And what are you doing here, versifier?" he asked a little irritated. Gandalf quickly directed everyone into the dining room to give the pair a little privacy.
"What are you talking about? You gave Gandalf a letter to give to me…" she took out said letter as she spoke and handed it to him.
He quickly scanned it then looked up, "I did not write this. Old friend, you have been deceived by the wizard. Go back to traveling and performing. I will send word when the dragon is defeated. It is good to see you again though, Torshar." He smiled and moved a strand of hair from her face, "Your hair and eyes still shine as bright as the moon and stars… Please go, old friend." He urged then walked away to join the others in the dining hall, leaving the dwarf maiden, trying not to shed tears, in his wake.