Disclaimer: everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, save for the characters not in his works.
Lived the life so endlessly
Saw beyond what others see
I tried to heal your broken heart
With all that I could
Will you stay?
Will you stay away forever?
How do I live without the ones I love?
Time still turns the pages of the book it's burned
Place and time always on my mind
I have so much to say but you're so far away
~So Far Away, Avenged Sevenfold
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
T.A. 2941
Bag End
He bent over his soup, eating it silently for a good while, aware of the expectant looks from his kin. The hobbit had disappeared with his nephews in tow, muttering about a friend that had not woken earlier. Thorin did not like this one bit. He glanced at Gandalf in between bites with mild annoyance.
He expected that- that- hobbit, to be the burglar?
He was small, weak looking, and had no knowledge of weaponry.
It would be suicide to send the hobbit with them. It would end in misery, he was sure of it. Mr. Baggin's was timid, like a mouse he mused, and would be dead before journey's end that much was certain. He hated to think of that kind of blood on his hands, but it was the reality of the situation. There was no place in the wilds for weakness. It was as good as asking for death.
"What news of the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked breaking the silence at last. Thorin set the small spoon in the bowl, pushing it away. It seemed he would not be eating more tonight, no matter.
"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms."
"Ah, all of them!" Balin seemed pleased by this.
"And did the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked gruffly, watching Thorin intently.
"They will not come," he muttered lowly. His fists clenched in the memory. Dain was a coward. He would not risk the lives of his people to help aid them, even if they were to succeed. And for that, his hatred towards his cousin only grew. Dain had met with him, listened to his words, and flatly rejected him after speaking with his advisors. In bitterness he had left Ered Luin, cursing Dain. "They will not risk it."
Several groans erupted from around the table.
"They say this quest is ours, and ours alone."
He had not noticed how silent it had become, drinking some of the ale set before him when the hobbits voice rose up. Fili and Kili and slid into their seats at the other end of the table, smirking. He eyed them warily, knowing instantly that they were up to something.
"Y-you're going on a quest?"
Thorin turned, gazing at the hobbit with a frown until . . . his eyes landed on her. Many years had passed, but she still was the same woman he remembered. Her hair, usually bound by a braid, was loose and tumbling past her shoulders. The scar on the side of her face was the same as before, if not a little more faded. Thorin felt his heart clench at the sight of her, his breathing freeze from within his chest. The hazel eyes he had grown to adore and admire shone brightly as he gazed at her, the pale skin of her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. Even after all these years, she still responded the same to their sudden meetings.
But the most important question running through his mind at the moment was: Why was she here?
The spell was broken when Gandalf spoke, and Thorin averted his eyes back to the table. His heart was thundering within his chest. Even after all these years . . . it was like he was seeing her for the first time. What was the saying? Time makes the heart grow fonder? Hadn't his father used those same words when speaking of his mother? All he wanted to do was embrace her, but he was surrounded by his kin and this was no time to act on it.
"Bilbo, my lad! Let us have a little more light," Gandalf said. He then pulled something from his robes, spreading it on the table. The hobbit wandered off, and Thorin leaned forward, frowning at the map. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, through woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak," he pointed to the mountain on the map.
"The . . . Lonely Mountain," the hobbit read slowly.
"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time," Gloin said, nodding emphatically. He raised his mug to his lips and took a swallow of ale as his brother joined in.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain, as it was foretold," Oin added. "When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
Nuil glanced at Bilbo as he froze in his spot. "Beast? What beast?"
"Well that would be Smaug the Terrible," Bofur said first. Thorin glanced at him, his frown deepening. "Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals."
"Yes, I know what a dragon is," Bilbo said somewhat agitated and annoyed, his gaze flickering to Nuil. She had told many stories involving dragons in his childhood. Which of course, he loved. But Nuil herself was stiff, eyes glued to Bofur as he spoke, not a trace of a smile on her face. When he spoke of Smaug, all she could picture was the fire, the stench and the heat. All she wanted to do was find some dark, cool corner and take a deep breath. She had to remind herself that she was still in Bilbo's smial, not back in the mountain itself.
"I'm not afraid!" said a young dwarf at the end of the table jumping to his feet. "I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!" The dwarf next to him pulled him down with a growl as the table erupted in loud murmurs.
"A dragon is not a trifling matter," Nuil spoke raising her voice but remaining calm, despite how she really felt. They silenced, listening as she spoke for the first time. "They are cunning, greedy, and far smarter than any of us may realize." She met each of the dwarrows eyes meaningfully, ending with Thorin who turned his gaze back to the map with a frown. Balin nodded.
"It'll be difficult with an army behind us," he said, "but we number just thirteen. Not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."
Shouts erupted from the table, as the dwarrow present took insult to his words, until Fili slammed his fist down gaining their attention. "We may be few in number, but we're fighters. All of us." He smacked the table, "to the last dwarf!"
"And you forget," Kili added eagerly, "we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time." It was a rousing little speech, Nuil thought, but it seemed far fetched. Especially when Gandalf began to protest.
"Well, now-"
"How many then?" Dori asked.
"What?"
"How many dragons have you killed?"
Gandalf coughed uncomfortably.
"Go on then, give us a number!" Nuil pressed herself into the wall when they suddenly rose to their feet, yelling at one another and waving their fists. She was used to this kind of behavior, the fights often turning violent, but this was a small enclosed space and Nuil was in no mood to receive any bruises should fists start flying. Thorin watched silently for a moment before rising to his feet and raising his voice above their own.
"No more!"
The dwarrow gathered instantly fell back into their seats, as Thorin stared them down. "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 sixty years. Eyes look east to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people 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!-" he raised his fist and the company roared, "Du bekar!"
"Do you forget the front gate is sealed," Balin cut in, dampening their spirits and reminding them all that this was no easy feat. Nuil shifted in her spot, not having liked Thorin's words but eager to see where this was going. Everything in her screamed to leave the mountain be, to not tempt the wrath of a dragon. "There is no way into the mountain."
"That my dear Balin, is not entirely true," said Gandalf, a iron key suddenly appearing in his hands. Nuil heard Thorin's breath catch, his blue eyes trained on the key with a look of recognition. Gandalf offered it to Thorin.
"How came you by this?" he breathed.
"It was given to me by your father, Thrain, for safe keeping. It is yours now," Gandalf replied. Thorin took the key with a look of reverence.
"If there is a key, there must be a door," Fili said. Gandalf gave Fili had small half smile and then pointed to the map with his pipe. From what Nuil could see they were runes, Khuzdul.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls."
"There's another way in," Kili clapped his brother on the back smiling gleefully.
"If we can find it," Gandalf said. "Dwarf doors are invisible when closed." He sighed. "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," he ended looking at Thorin. "The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage."
He looked meaningfully at Bilbo and suddenly Nuil understood why that marking had been on his door earlier. She grit her teeth together, and held her tongue. Just what did this wizard expect? A hobbit, living in the comforts of his smial to just up and leave it, to travel the wilds when he could be sitting by a warm hearth with a full belly?
"But if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar!" exclaimed the dwarf who had risen with an exclamation of fearlessness.
"Hm! A good one too," Bilbo said looking at the map and hooking his thumbs in his suspenders. "An expert I'd imagine."
"And are you?" Gloin asked leaning forward.
Bilbo looked behind himself, and frowned. He looked at Gloin in confusion. "Am I what?"
Oin straightened, his ear horn still in his ear. "He said he's an expert!" Several dwarves huffed at his deaf assumption.
"Me? No, no, no! I'm not a burglar," Bilbo said sounding offended. "I've never stolen a thing in my life." Nuil let out a scoff, crossing her arms. Little liar. She sent him a look that clearly said, 'what about my throwing knives?' Bilbo pointedly avoided her gaze.
Balin hummed. "I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material."
"Aye, the wild is no place for folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves," Dwalin agreed. Another wave of raised voices went around the room, some upset and others in agreement with the two brothers. The all knew that a burglar was needed, what were they to do if they couldn't get one? Gandalf gave them all an infuriated scowl before he straightened and rose.
The room grew dark and the air felt heavy as they fell silent. Nuil had never had any dealing with wizards before, and shrank away from Gandalf in fright as he suddenly seemed to grow. "Enough! If I say Mr. Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is." The room lightened as the wizard breathed in a calming breath. "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 a hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage." He turned to Thorin.
"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company," he said while sitting, "And I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There is a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. " He looked at Thorin knowingly.
"You must trust me on this."
"Very well," Thorin said a moment later, biting on his own words. How he hated that the wizard's words seemed right. He certainly wasn't going to make it easy for the little hobbit. He would have to learn how to fend for himself, and earn his own keep. "We'll do it your way."
"No, no," Bilbo tried to object as panic filled his voice. Nuil came forward, entirely displeased with how this was going. Bilbo was under her care, he was her responsibility. She had promised Belladonna to watch over Bilbo.
"Give him the contract."
Balin stood and handed the contract to Thorin, who in turn shoved it roughly into Bilbo's chest. "It's just the usual; summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, and so forth."
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo echoed clearly startled and began reading the contract. Nuil watched silently as he read out loud to himself, growing paler with each word. Her gaze was drawn away when Thorin rose from his seat and leaned down to speak so that only Gandalf could hear what he had to say. But she did, and fury swept through her.
"I cannot guarantee his safety."
"Understood."
"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."
Gandalf hesitated, looking at Thorin. "Agreed."
How could Gandalf so easily sign away Bilbo's fate? Throw him off into the wilds and let whatever happens, happen? He was her responsibility, and here was a wizard challenging her promises to a dead friend. Nuil could not let Belladonna down, not like she had with her father. Were Bilbo to die, she would never forgive herself. It would be another life she couldn't protect. More blood on her already dirty hands.
And Thorin! How could he say such a thing?! Had he not seen Bilbo? While she genuinely cared for his safety and welfare, he was wholly unprepared for such a quest. Thorin was just going to sit back and let Bilbo, basically, throw his life away? And a burglar, of all things! This was madness. It had to all be the wizards doing. All him. He must have been the one to even bring up the whole idea.
Nuil would have continued to stew had it not been for Bilbo's alarmed exclamation.
"Incineration?!"
"Oh, aye. It'll melt the flesh of your bones in the blink of an eye," Bofur said eagerly. Nuil clenched her jaw, thinking of her parents and brothers.
"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked. Bilbo bent over and took a deep breath.
"Yeah, I'll be. Feel a bit faint." Nuil pushed away from the wall, hovering near him.
"Think furnace, with wings"
"Yeah, I-I-I need air," Bilbo huffed, looking weak. Nuil shot Bofur a glare, not that the dwarf noticed, before resting a gentle hand on Bilbo's shoulder.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash."
Bilbo took a deep breath trying to steady himself. Looked at them, and then straightened his shoulders. He seemed to come back to himself until, "Nope," he said before going limp. Nuil caught him in her arms, easily, shooting a glare to the dwarf.
"Very helpful, Bofur," Gandalf sighed. With a final cold glance to the dwarves, Nuil lifted Bilbo as best she could and carried him to the sitting room. They were really helping convince Bilbo by scaring him, she thought sarcastically.
Not sure how I feel about this chapter. This one and the last one I've really struggled with, and I honestly almost deleted ch.20 after I posted it. But the next chapter I'm in love with, so I think it will be okay. For now. Meh. Oh, wow, this is another short chapter. :( Sorry.
I kind of followed the movie and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, I love the movie, but I don't want to just quote lines word for word. Which I did here. Tell me what you think, I'm open to ideas.
Many many many many thank you's to my amazing reviewers: Comics4theFeels, The Penned Tekrid, Sam0728, Just4Me, uno mega, Chilled Souls of the Forgotten, y0ur-DoWnFaLl, and Guest. You all are amazing and I just love hearing from you all. Also thanks to readers, followers and favoriters!
Read and Review!
~filimeala