Chapter 9

Abigail followed Gandalf as he made his way back to the house. She dreaded the thought of seeing Thorin again, but she supposed she would have to get used to it. Once they were inside the house Abigail took her seat between Fili and Kili, making sure not to touch Thorin as she went by. She did not miss the fact that he had refused to look at her.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf said as he took his seat.

While the hobbit brought back a candle, the wizard pulled out a map and spread it over the table.

"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." He said.

"The lonely Mountain." Bilbo read from the map.

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

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of Yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." Oin said.

Abigail saw Bilbo shift uncomfortably.

"Uh, what beast?"

"Well, that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals-" Bofur was saying.

"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo said indignantly.

"I'm not afraid!" The youngest one said suddenly, standing "I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie."

Several of the dwarves shouted out at the outburst. Abigail had to give the dwarf credit for being brave however, he had no idea what he was going up against unlike his elders.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest." Balin commented.

At this the other dwarves started objecting loudly.

"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" Fili yelled above the noise.

"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." Kili said confidently.

Abigail had to smile at that because she knew that Gandalf had in fact never killed a dragon.

"Oh, well, now, uh, I-I-I wouldn't say that, I-" Gandalf struggled.

"How many, Then?" Dori asked.

"Uh, what?"

"Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!" Dori pressed.

"Hm." Was Gandalf's intelligent reply.

When Gandalf didn't elaborate, the dwarves started arguing about how many dragons he had killed in his time. Abigail saw the tenseness in Thorin's shoulders and knew he was about to lose his temper.

"Shazara!" He bellowed "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 of 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?"

The dwarves yelled their war cries loudly. Abigail remained silent, watching Thorin. This was the dwarf she remembered, full of passion and drive.

Ever the realist, Balin had to put in his word.

"You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain."

"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf said, producing a dwarfish looking key.

"How did you come by this?" Thorin asked.

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safe keeping. It is yours now." Gandalf said, handing the key to Thorin.

"If there is a key, there must be a door." Fili said excitedly.

"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf pointed to the map then looked at Abigail "I don't suppose you could read these could you?"

She looked at the markings on the map but they were foreign to her.

"I cannot but I know who could." She said.

Gandalf shook his head, telling her to say nothing further.

"So, there is a way in?" Kili asked eagerly, ignoring her statement.

"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. 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. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done." Gandalf said.

"That's why we need a burglar." Ori said.

"Hm, a good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine." Bilbo commented.

"And are you?" Gloin asked, holding up his hearing aid.

"Am I what?" Bilbo asked confused.

"He said he's an expert! Hey hey!" Oin said.

"M-me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar: I've never stolen a thing in my life." He said dismissively.

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin said sadly.

Bilbo nodded happily.

"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin said.

Again the dwarves began to argue amongst themselves.

"Enough!" Gandalf boomed, standing to his full height "If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."

As fast as it had come, the wizard's anger dissipated.

"Hobbits 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 hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest. And he's good a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this." He said.

"Very well." Thorin said reluctantly "We will do it your way."

"No, no, no." Bilbo protested.

"Give him the contract." Thorin ordered.

Balin hands Bilbo a long contract. He then glanced at her before looking at Thorin.

"And Abigail?" He asked finally.

For the first time since she'd come back he looked at her. His eyes were cold as they watched her. Finally he nodded. Balin handed her a contract which she started to look over immediately.

"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth." He told them.

"Funeral arrangements?"

As Bilbo stepped back to read the contract, Thorin leaned towards Gandalf.

"I cannot guarantee his safety," Thorin whispered "nor hers."

"Understood." Gandalf replied.

"Nor will I be responsible for their fate."

"Agreed."

The way in which he said it sent chills down Abigail's spine. Bilbo, seeming not to have heard any of their conversation, continued reading aloud the contract.

"Eh, present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof including but not limited to lacerations…evisceration…incineration?"

Bilbo glanced up at them, as if asking for confirmation that he'd read that right. Abigail shook her head to show that she could be of no help. For her part, she took the quill Balin offered and signed her name.

"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur said.

Bilbo's face paled, he looked as if he was struggling to breath.

"Uh, yeah…feel a big faint."

"Think furnace with wings." Bofur pushed.

"Air, I-I-I need air."

"Flash of light, searing pain, then Poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash."

Bilbo breathed heavily, trying to compose himself as everyone stared at him.

"Hmm. Nope." With that Bilbo fainted.

Abigail jumped up and went to Bilbo's side.

"Ah, very helpful, Bofur." Gandalf said, coming closer "Abigail, help me get him into the chair.

*O*

"How are you feeling?' Abigail asked, handing Bilbo a mug of hot tea.

"I'll be all right, let me just sit quietly for moment."

"You've been sitting quietly for far too long. Tell me; when did doilies and your mother's dishes become so important to you? I remember a young Hobbit who always was running off in search of elves and the woods, who'd stay out late, come home after dark, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young Hobbit who would have liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders to the Shire. That world is not in your books and maps; it's out there." Gandalf said.

"I can't just go running off into the blue. I am a Baggins, of Bag End." Bilbo said stubbornly.

"You are also a Took. Did you know that your Great-great-great-great-uncle, Bullroarer Took, was so large he could ride a real horse?"

"Yes." The hobbit replied.

"Well he could. In the Battle of Green fields, he charged the goblin ranks. He swung his club so hard it knocked the Goblin King's head clean off, and it sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole. And thus the battle was won, and the game of golf invented at the same time."

"I do believe you made that up."

"Well, all good stories deserve embellishment. You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back."

"Can you promise that I will come back?" Bilbo asked.

Gandalf looked as if he didn't quite know how to respond.

"No." Abigail jumped in "Life does not give those kinds of assurances."

"That's what I thought. Sorry, I can't sign this. You've got the wrong Hobbit."

After that, Bilbo got up and walked away. Gandalf sighed as he watched him go.

"Do you think he'll change his mind?" Abigail asked.

"I still have faith in that hobbit." He assured.

She looked down at her hands, clasped in her lap.

"Why?" She asked "If you don't mind me asking."

Gandalf paused for a moment "Honestly my dear, I'm not sure. However, something tells me we're going to need him on this quest."

She could see the potential in the hobbit as well, she'd seen the curiosity beneath the mask of disapproval. However she was still unsure that he should be allowed to come on this quest. Abigail sat back into the sofa and let out a sigh. It had been an eventful day if she did say so herself and all she really wanted to do was get some rest. However her mind continued to race as the moments rolled by.

"Do you think Thorin and I will ever be the same?" Abigail asked.

Gandalf paused, taking his time to pick the right words.

"I don't think, after all that has happened, any two people could be the same."

Abigail felt a wave of sadness over came her.

"However, I do believe there is hope that a friendship might endure. But, I think it will require no small amount of patience on your part."

Before she could reply, Abigail heard the low grumbles of the dwarves as they started to sing.

"Far over the misty mountains cold

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away ere break of day

To find our long-forgotten gold"

Abigail stared into the burning embers of the fire, tears filled her eyes but didn't fall.

"The pines were roaring on the height

The winds were moaning in the night

The fire was red, it flaming spread

The trees like torches blazed with light"

After the song was finished the dwarves dispersed, each finding a suitable place to sleep for the night. For her part Abigail curled up in the chair she was sitting in, the warmth from her fire making her comfortable. After everything that had happened today, she was ready for some rest.

Hope you guys liked this chapter, I know it's not the best but I didn't have as much wiggle room as I will with future chapters. I would really like to thank everyone who's liked/Favorited or reviewed my story! As always I love getting feedback from you guys, and I wont lie, a review really makes my day.