Chapter 8

Thorin's P.O.V

Thorin was already aggravated when he reached the Shire, his meeting with the dwarves of the iron hills hadn't gone well. And although he was still determined to go on this quest, he had to admit that without their help, their chances of success were significantly slimmer.

He shook his head, it didn't matter the chances, that dragon had lounged in their homes for long enough.

Thorin let out a frustrated sigh, Gandalf promised that this meeting place would not be hard to find, and yet here he was wandering around the village looking like a fool. He wasn't even sure why he'd agreed to let the wizard pick the last member of the company. What could a hobbit possibly do that a dwarf could not.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the glowing blue light. He walked through the well-kept flower garden, wondering what kind of a burglar could possibly live here. As he approached the door, he heard loud bouts of laughter coming from inside. He stared to get angry. This was the most important quest of any of their lives. Did they not have the decency to take it seriously? Thorin knocked on the door forcefully, much to his satisfaction the laughter stopped immediately. A moment later Gandalf opened the door.

"Ah, Gandalf, I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door." He said.

"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!"

It was then that Thorin noticed the small hobbit standing behind Gandalf. He had to hold in a groan at the sight of him, this couldn't be the hobbit that Gandalf wanted to take on the quest could it?

"So, this is the Hobbit?" He said, stepping into the house "Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?" the hobbit asked, looking slightly dumbstruck.

"Axe or sword? 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." He replied almost jokingly.

Thorin took a deep breath to calm himself. How dare this hobbit presume to joke about such a matter.

"Thought as much. He looks like a grocer that a burglar." Thorin said, receiving a few laughs from the other dwarves.

"Leave him alone Thorin." A female voice said from behind him.

Thorin froze, he knew that voice, but that couldn't be her, she was dead, perished that terrible day. Slowly he turned around to see Abigail standing in the door frame. She hadn't changed much in sixty years, except now she was wearing elven riding leathers. There was a long tense silence in the room in which a wide range of emotions hit him hard.

"Perhaps you two should step outside for a moment." Gandalf said.

Maybe he was right, he couldn't have his men thinking he was weak. So without further hesitation he turned and left the house.

Abigail's P.O.V

Abigail just stood there for a moment, staring at the spot Thorin had been occupying just a second before. Whatever reaction she'd been expecting that hadn't been it, the look on his face was stoic, closed off from the world. Somehow that only made Abigail more apprehensive. So, after a moment of hesitation and a helpful nudge from Balin, she followed him out.

She caught sight of him a few paces down the road. She took a deep breath before continuing. For a while she waited for him to say something but he remained silent.

"Thorin-"

"Who are you?" He interrupted.

The question took her aback for a few seconds.

"You know me." She said at last.

"No, I knew a girl who looked like you, but you could not be her." Was his harsh reply.

"Thorin, it's me." Abigail said desperately.

"You could not be her, the girl I know would never dress in elven clothes."

It surprised her that that was what he was upset about.

"It is me," She said, pulling the ring from around her neck and holding it out to him "look."

He took hold of the ring and stared at it as if not believing.

"I lost this." He said quietly.

"At Erebor, yes I know, because I found it when I went looking for you after we were separated."

Abigail waited for the realization to sink in for him. He was silent for so long Abigail started to get worried.

"Why did you never try to find me?" He asked finally.

"Because I thought you were dead." She said.

"Did you even look?" His words were harsh but Abigail could hear the sorrow beneath.

"I didn't because…" She trailed off, not knowing if he would even believe her.

Thorin crossed his arms and stared at her.

"Because the dragon said you were dead."

"The dragon?" He sounded shocked.

"Yes, when I tried to find you after we were separated, I followed you to the treasury room, but you were already gone."

"And the dragon was there." He finished.

"Yes."

For a moment she felt hope, hope that he would believe her story, but his face soon turned to stone once more.

"How did you escape?" He asked curtly

"I didn't, he let me go."

"Let you go? Why would he do that?"

Abigail took in a ragged deep breath, even after all these years the memory of Smaug still sent chills through her.

"He wanted me to spread the word of his victory. He said every good story needs a story teller."

Thorin just stared at her for a minute.

"I'm sorry I didn't come back but after I thought I'd lost you…"she trailed off.

While he was deep in thought, she took a moment to study his features for the first time. His hair had streaks of gray in it and there were dark bags under his eye's that make him look older.

"I looked for you for so long." He said slowly "I mourned for your death for years."

"As did I." She replied.

"But why now? If what you say is true, how did you learn of my survival after all these years?"

"Gandalf asked me if I would meet with him to discuss a quest." She said.

"Why did he say nothing?"

Abigail shook her head, she didn't want to reveal what the wizard had said for fear of him laughing or perhaps worse, being disgusted.

"So…What now?" She asked after another uncomfortably long pause.

"Well now you can go home."

"What?" She could not hid the shock in her tone "You want me to return to Rivendale after this? There's no way."

The slight snarl of his lips when she said Rivendale told her what this was truly about.

"This is not your quest." He said harshly.

"It is, or have you forgotten that the dragon destroyed my home and family as well?" She asked.

"I have not." He replied after a short pause "But this is my own quest, and as such you have no place in it."

Abigail stood dumbstruck, her mouth hung open in a very un-elf like expression. His words cut her to the bone, they made her sad, but also angry beyond belief.

"Fine." She managed through gritted teeth "I'll go."

It was all she could do to walk away without letting the tears escape. Just as she was leaving she heard Gandalf calling her name but she didn't turn back. Abigail didn't stop until she got to Narsis. The mare nickered as if she knew something was amiss. The tears which had been threatening to fall were now running free. She hugged Narsis's neck for comfort. Abigail didn't know what she'd been expecting but this had been far from it. Maybe a little surprise but not this quiet anger, not words that were meant to hurt her.

She thought back all those years ago, when he'd asked her to leave with him. The look he'd given her had been so open and trusting, so unlike the look he'd given her tonight. Abigail understood his mistrust of the elves, but this was something else, something more akin to hatred. Did she even want to go on this quest? She thought back to the dragon. Was she even capable of facing that foe again? A few minutes later she heard someone coming down the path. Quickly, Abigail whipped her eyes and turned to face them.

"Oh, good, I thought you had left." Gandalf said as he came into view.

"I should have," she said "why did you bring me here Gandalf? You obviously knew how he was going to react so why even bother?"

The wizard stopped a few feet away from her.

"Because whether or not he knows it, he needs you around on this quest." He said.

"He hates me." She cried

"No, he simply distrust elves," He said "they did refuse to help his people in their hours of need."

"This was not mistrust Gandalf. Besides, as he so kindly pointed out, this is his quest. If he chooses not to let me come, there is nothing I can do about it." Abigail said crossing her arms.

"You needn't worry about Thorin, he has agreed to let you come." Gandalf said "As long as that is what you wish."

"How in the world did you manage that?" She asked suspiciously.

"That is irrelevant." He said quickly "The real question remains: do you wish to come with us?"

Abigail looked away from him. Of course she wanted revenge on Smaug for killing her family but she wasn't sure she was ready to face the dragon again.

"I don't think I'm brave enough." She admitted softly.

"Only you can know that Abigail," he said "but for what it's worth, I think you are. After all I've seen you in action."

"That was different," she said "we weren't going up against a dragon then. Even with 13 dwarves, we don't stand a chance."

"Fifteen, if we count you and Bilbo." Gandalf corrected.

"And the hobbit, Gandalf, the hobbit should not be a part of something like this." She said.

"The hobbit has much to offer this company. He doesn't even know it yet but he does." He said.

His faith in the hobbit was commendable, after a pause Gandalf continued in a softer tone.

"I believe we can do this," he said "we may be few, but each one of those dwarves have a reason to fight which counts for a lot. However, it won't be easy, and the loss of you could hurt our chances dearly. I can only ask that you consider everything before you make your decision."

Abigail sighted loudly, his word seemed to awaken something within her, a fire burned in her heart. That was when she knew she had to go on this quest and a few harsh words from Thorin would not be enough to stop her. So, with a determined expression on her face she turned to face the wizard once more.

"Good, let us return to the house." Gandalf said, with a knowing smile.

Here it is finally, I hope you liked it. I didn't want everything to be sunshine and daisy's quite yet, after all, this is the first time they've seen each other in like 60 years. Anyway please let me know what you think! I'm always open to suggestions!