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Chapter 3: An Unexpected Party
Hope and Alaric stayed at Bag End while Bilbo went shopping at the market to better accommodate them. At Ric's request, the Hobbit showed them a map of Middle-earth. Alaric was fascinated by the topography. Middle Earth seemed to be a huge continent next to a sea. He lives there represented a long chain of mountains, from vast plains to dense forests. Hope and Alaric hadn't yet fully realized that they were no longer in Virginia, nor somewhere in the United States.
When evening came, Bilbo served as much food as he could to his guests, praying that Gandalf would pass quickly to retrieve them.
"Thank you for this good food," said Hope, kindly.
"It was delicious," said Alaric, jovially.
Bilbo nodded his head in response.
Then the bell rings.
"Oh, it's probably Gandalf," said Ric.
"I hope it's him," replied Bilbo, walking to his door.
They heard Bilbo open the door, while someone greeted the Hobbit in a hoarse voice that did not belong to the wizard.
"Dwalin, at your service."
"Uh... Bilbo Baggins, at yours." the Hobbit replied on the defensive.
Then footsteps echoed as Hope and Alaric understood that this «Dwalin» had hurried inside as if he were expected.
"Do we know each other?" asked Bilbo.
"No," replied the hoarse voice of the new guest. "Which way, laddie? Is it down here?"
"Is what down where?"
"Supper. He said there'd be food and lots of it."
"He... He said? Who said?"
Dwalin had arrived in the dining room, and Hope and Alaric were finally able to discover that he was a small bald man with a thick brown beard. Hope was able to see that Dwalin was neither Hobbit nor an ordinary man. He was a Dwarf. Even Alaric came to this conclusion, to his great amazement.
Dwalin was acting like he was at home. He sat quietly on the table and devoured Bilbo's plate, under the astonished gaze of the two strangers.
After taking a few bites, he turned to the two new people.
"Dwalin, at your service!"
"Charmed," said Alaric, too surprised to react.
The Tribrid nodded slightly.
While the Dwarf was busy eating under the bewildered gaze of Bilbo, Hope had moved away with Alaric in a corner of the house.
"Is that what I think it is?" said the Tribrid with amazement. "He's a Dwarf!"
"A Dwarf straight out of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," added Alaric, as stunned as she was.
"I can't believe it. I'm not dreaming!"
"No, it's real," replied Alaric, with a gruff look. "Other world with other creatures."
Then they reached Bilbo and the Dwarf who was still eating the Hobbit dish, when the bell rang again.
"That'll be the door." said Dwalin with his mouth full to his host.
"He knows," said Alaric.
Bilbo went back to the gate, Hope and Alaric followed him, expecting Gandalf to arrive this time.
When they opened the door, they discovered another Dwarf, who had a long white beard and a red dress.
"Balin, at your service." he came with a pleasant smile and a bow.
"Good evening," said Bilbo, even more surprised.
"Yes. Yes, it is." replied Dwarf Balin on his way home. "Though I think it might rain later. Am I late?"
"Late for what?" stammered the confused Hobbit.
Balin then noticed Hope and Alaric.
"Oh, you must be Alaric and Hope," he said jovially. "Gandalf told me about you two. I am honored to meet you." (He bowed to them.)
"Good evening," replied Alaric.
"Did Gandalf tell you about us?" wondered Hope.
Balin nodded and saw Dwalin with joy.
"Oh! Ha, ha! Evening, brother."
"By my beard!" exclaimed Dwalin, happily. "You're shorter and wider than last we met."
"Wider, not shorter." corrected Balin always in a good mood. "Sharp enough for both of us."
They both laughed as they put their hands on each other's shoulders, and then suddenly they gave each other a head shot as a greeting, to the surprise of the others.
"So, you two are brothers?" asked Hope, stunned and curious.
"Yes," replied Balin, always smiling. "Dwalin is my little brother."
"I wouldn't have guessed it," commented Tribride with amazement.
"But you, you're the smartest of the two of us," replied Dwalin to the old Dwarf with fun.
"Excuse me," said Bilbo with embarrassment. "Sorry, I hate to interrupt. But the thing is, I'm not entirely sure you're in the right house."
But neither of the two Dwarves paid him any attention. After greeting each other, they began to pillage Bilbo's pantry, much to the chagrin of the latter who tried to communicate with them:
"It's not that I don't like visitors. I like visitors as much as the next Hobbit. But I do like to know them before they come "visiting". The thing is, I don't know either of you. Not in the slightest…"
"I have a feeling these Dwarves should be here," Hope said.
"Probably Gandalf must have sent them here," added Alaric. "For that adventure thing."
"An adventure involving Bilbo and Dwarves?"
"I don't know any more than you do!"
Balin caught something that looked like cheese.
"What is this?" said Dwalin, sniffing it.
"I think it's cheese." said Balin.
"It's riddled with mold…"
And Bilbo continued to speak to them while the two Dwarves completely ignored him, did not even seem to notice his presence.
"…I don't know either of you. Not in the slightest. I don't mean to be blunt, but I had to speak my mind. I'm sorry."
Finally, the two Dwarves turned to the Hobbit, who remained neutral. Hope and Alaric were wondering if they really listened to him.
"Apology accepted." said Balin with a smile.
"I think they didn't understand the context," said Alaric.
While Dwalin and Balin continued to plunder the pantry, the bell rang again, to the great displeasure of Bilbo who was beginning to be annoyed.
Seeing that the Hobbit was on edge, Hope offered to help him.
"If I may, I can go and open the door. It must be Gandalf."
"You can come with me," replied Bilbo, with a stunned air.
The two opened the door to see the arrival of two new Dwarves. They were much younger than the first two arrivals. One of them had black hair with a stubble beard, and the other was blond with a stubble beard too.
"Fili," replied the blond dwarf.
"And Kili," added the second.
And both bowed before Bilbo and Hope.
"At your service." they both said.
Slightly surprised, Hope nodded to them.
"Hope Mikaelson, nice to meet you."
Kili took Hope's hand and kissed her.
"Nice to meet you too, my lady."
Fili added:
"My apologies for my brother, he is not used to seeing girls like you."
"That's not bad," the Tribride said kindly.
Then the two new Dwarves turned to Bilbo.
"You must be Mr. Boggins." said Kili, smiling.
"It's Mr. Baggins, actually," corrected Hope with courtesy.
But Bilbo, tired of seeing Dwarves arriving in his house, hurried to close the front door on the new guests.
"No! You can't come in, you've come to the wrong house…"
He tried to close the door, but Kili blocked it with his foot.
"What?! Has it been canceled?"
"No one told us." added Fili, with a frown.
"Excuse me, what are you talking about?" asked Hope with curiosity.
"Can…! No, nothing's been canceled…" said Bilbo, frustrated.
"That's a relief." replied Kili, smiling with joy.
And the two Dwarves entered Bag End, as if they were invited, which further upset the Hobbit.
"Did Gandalf send you?" said Hope, watching the Dwarves get rid of their belongings.
"Yes, he said he would meet us here with the others," replied Fili.
And he gave Bilbo his swords covered in cloth.
"Careful with these, I just had them sharpened."
"It's nice, this place. Did you do it yourself?" said Kili looking inside the house.
"Uh…no, it's been in the family for years." replied Bilbo.
And Kili began to rub his mud-covered boot on one of Hobbit's chests.
"That's my mother's glory box, can you please not do that?" warned Bilbo while Fili continued to give him his weapons.
Then Alaric found Hope and shared a confused look with her at the sight of the new Dwarves. Kili turned happily to him.
"And you must be Mr. Salman."
"Alaric Saltzman," corrected the surprised Headmaster.
"Kili and my brother Fili, at your service, Mr. Salman!"
"Nice to meet you! You can call me Ric."
Dwalin came to the new Dwarves and grabbed Kili by the shoulders.
"Fili, Kili, come on, give us a hand!"
"Mr Dwalin," greeted Kili as the Dwarf guided him into the dining room.
He greeted Balin, who showed them the table.
"Let's shove this in the hole, or otherwise we'll never get everyone in."
"Everyone?" Alaric was astonished.
"How many are there?" asked Hope.
"Quite a few, young lass," said Dwalin. "We're all here for the Quest."
"The Quest? What Quest?"
"The Quest of Erebor, of course," said Dwalin, as if it was obvious.
"If Gandalf sent you here, you should know about the Quest of Erebor," said Balin.
"Gandalf didn't say anything about a Quest," replied Alaric.
"Oh no, how many are there?" exclaimed Bilbo, annoyed and furious with the swords loaded with Fili's arms.
Seeing that the Hobbit was exasperated with the weapons in his arms, Alaric proposed to rid him of all the paraphernalia he wore.
"I'll take them from you! I'm used to it."
Then Bilbo, somewhat relieved, accepted Alaric's help, the bell rang again.
"More Dwarves?" cried Hope, stunned.
For Bilbo, it was the last straw that overflowed the vase. He grumbled back to the entrance:
"Oh, no! 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…if this is some blockhead's idea of a joke, I can only say, it is in very poor taste!"
As he spoke, he opened his door on the fly, and a heap of Dwarves fell inside. Struggling to get up, they grumbled and shouted at each other, dissatisfied.
"More Dwarves," Hope commented with shock. "There are eight of them. That's twelve Dwarves now."
Gandalf then leaned his head from the outside, always leaning on his stick as Bilbo sighed.
"Gandalf!"
"Good evening, Mr. Gandalf," said Hope with courtesy. "Did you bring all those Dwarves?"
"Yes, my dear Hope," replied the wizard, smiling with amusement.
"I don't mean to be rude, but you could have warned Mr. Baggins," replied the Tribrid.
Alaric, who had managed to find a place to put the belongings of Kili and Fili, found Hope and Bilbon at the entrance. He appeared confused and bewildered at the sight of the eight new Dwarves, and was amazed to see the magician again.
"Gandalf!"
Hope turned to her teacher with amusement.
"It's no longer Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," she said, giggling. "It's Snow White and the Twelve Dwarfs."
Later, the twelve Dwarves together began looting Bilbo's pantry and taking away all its food. The Hobbit could get mad and ask them to stop, but no Dwarf paid him any attention.
Bilbo wanted to rise up to be heard, but to no avail.
"Those are my… (He saw a Dwarf take one of his favorite dishes from him.) Excuse me, not my wine! (He saw another Dwarf with a pitcher in his hand.) Put that back. Put that back! Not the jam, please."
Then he saw another bearded and very plump Dwarf carrying large portions of cheese.
Bilbo tried to intercept him.
"Ex…Excuse me. A tad excessive, isn't it? Have you got a cheese knife?"
"A cheese knife?" surprised another Dwarf named Bofur by passing by the Hobbit with ham. "He eats it by the block."
And the misfortune of Bilbo continued when he saw the other Dwarves taking chairs to set them up in the dining room.
"No no, that's Grandpa Mungo's chair, no… uh, so is that. Take it back, please. Take it back, this is antique, not for sitting on. Thank you. That is a book, not a coaster. Uh… put that map down."
Gandalf helped the Dwarves set the table, while Hope and Alaric didn't know what else to do, helped the newcomers settle in. Alaric placed the cutlery on the table. Hope helped the Dwarves lay chairs around, then cast spells in low voices to make the Dwarves comfortable and not to damage the Hobbit's wooden seats.
A Dwarf holding a tray made up of a teapot and cups came to see the magician.
"Excuse me, Mr. Gandalf?"
"Yes?" said the latter, turning to him.
"May I tempt you with a cup of chamomile?" asked the Dwarf, pouring out a cup.
"Ooh, no thank you, Dori. A little red wine, for me I think." said Gandalf.
Then Dwarf Dori turned to Alaric and Hope, making them the same offer.
"No, thank you," said Hope with courtesy.
"No thanks," replied Alaric.
He then crossed the corridor and avoided hitting a Dwarf by the name of Nori, and his head accidentally hit the chandelier suspended from the ceiling as it stabilized while Alaric spoke to him sympathetically.
"I almost hit myself with that too."
"This is very common in the houses of the Hobbits," replied Gandalf in a good mood.
"Hope and I realized that."
Gandalf then began to count the Dwarves.
"Uh..Fili, Kili. Uh…Oin, Gloin. Dwalin, Balin. Bifur, Bofur, Bombur. Dori, Nori. Ori."
The Dwarf Bifur (who had an axe head planted in the front of his skull) walked to Gandalf and spoke in a language that Alaric did not understand.
"Yes, you are quite right, Bifur." said Gandalf, who seemed to understand what he was saying. "We appear to be one Dwarf short."
"So there are thirteen. Not twelve," Alaric pointed out.
Dwalin, drinking a cup nearby, assured the magician:
"He is late, is all. He traveled north to a meeting of our kin, he will come."
Then the Dwarf Dori returned to Gandalf with a tiny glass in his hand.
"Mr. Gandalf? A little glass of red wine as requested, it's got a fruity bouquet."
"Oh, cheers." he thanked the magician by drinking.
Then he looked at the tiny little glass with disappointment. Alaric seemed amused at the sight of the magician drinking a red wine from a very small glass.
Hope was finishing setting up the Dwarves at the table.
"Is it comfortable?" she asked them.
"This is perfect, thank you young Hope," thanked Dwarf Bofur. "You are very welcoming and punctual."
"Thank you," replied Hope, blushing a little.
The Tribrid had observed all the Dwarves who had arrived with those who had come first. Oin was very old and used an auditory trumpet. He said he was hard on an ear. Gloin was his younger brother and had the appearance of a warrior. Nori had a brownish beard. She had also noticed the axe head planted in Bifur's head and that he was muttering in a strange tongue. His brother Bofur wore a strange hat, and their other brother Bombur was the fattest and biggest Dwarf.
Soon after, the Dwarves were all at the table and ate everything they had taken from Bilbo's pantry. Hope and Alaric, having already eaten, left them between themselves. And both were able to see the strange eating ways of the twelve Dwarves. Bofur threw food at Bombur, who grabbed it in his mouth and ate it with cheers.
"They almost look like kids," commented Alaric, looking at the juvenile behaviour of some Dwarves.
Then Dwalin poured beer into Oin's auditory trumpet, which embarrassed him to hear. He began to blow on his horn, thus spitting beer making a trumpet sound to the great hilarity of others. Then the Dwarves drank the beer of Bilbo while Nori made a strong burp, to the great amusement of the others, then some began to imitate him.
"Kids, yes,"Hope told Alaric, stunned. "You are quite right. They're not as civilized as we are."
Little amused, Balin hit the table with his fist.
"Stop it, mind your manners!" he exclaimed. "We have a young lady here. That's no way to behave."
Chastised and ashamed, they apologized to Hope, but she assured them with kindness.
"That's all right. I don't care about that!"
And the Dwarves resumed their party.
For his part, Bilbo contemplated what was left of his pantry. His entire food supply had been taken away by the Dwarves. Hope joined him with sympathy.
"You won't have to worry about your chairs," she said at him, smiling. "I made them strong with a spell. The Dwarves won't damage them."
"Do you practice magic? Like Gandalf?" marvelled Bilbo with wide-eyed stupor.
"Not quite like him, but I am a witch," replied Hope. (And before the Hobbit's frightened gaze, she hastened to answer.) "I don't know what they say about the witches of this world, but I'm a good witch. I won't hurt you, Bilbo Baggins."
"So… you can turn people into toads?" dared to ask the Hobbit with fright.
Hope had to resist the urge to laugh. She had never considered herself a witch who turned people into insignificant creatures. She hastened to answer.
"No, no, no. I don't do that! I use spells to do good. I cast a spell on your chairs to make them strong and comfortable for the Dwarves. That way, they won't be broken."
"And you can't bring back all my groceries for my pantry?"
Hope turned her head to the looted pantry, before answering with embarrassment:
"Sorry, I don't know of any spell that can bring back food. You'll have to do your shopping again."
When the meal was over, the Dwarves left the table and began to walk inside the house. Bilbo caught a doily that Nori was holding.
"Ex… excuse me, that is a doily, not a dish cloth."
"But it's full of holes!" remarked Bofur, with confusion.
"It's supposed to look like that, it's crochet." replied Bilbo, putting his cloth in a closet.
"Oh, and a wonderful game it is too, if you got the balls for it." replied Bofur, amused.
"Bebother and confusticate these Dwarves!" grumbled the overzealous and furious Hobbit.
Hope was trying so hard to comfort him.
"My dear Bilbo, what on earth is the matter?" asked Gandalf, joining him in a very calm tone.
"What's the matter?" cried Bilbo in disbelief. "I am surrounded by Dwarves."
"Mr. Gandalf, what are all these Dwarves doing here?" asked Hope suspiciously.
"They're quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them." replied the magician.
The Tribrid then understood that Gandalf used to be enigmatic. She always wondered how to get back to her world.
"I don't want to get used to them." replied Bilbo, while dragging the magician down the hall. "Look at the state of my kitchen! There's mud trod in the carpet, they… they've pillaged the pantry! I'm not even gonna tell you what they've done in the bathroom, they've all but destroyed the plumbing! I don't understand what they're doing in my house!"
"Why is there a gathering of Dwarves and especially at Bilbo?" asked Hope. "And please answer candidly. You said you might have an idea how to get us home."
"And it will be done, Lady Hope," added the always quiet magician. "Just be patient with me."
And before she could deepen, the Dwarf Ori came to see Bilbo with his plate.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt. But what should do with my plate?"
Before Bilbo could scold the Dwarf, Fili came to him with an amused look.
"Here you go, Ori, give it to me."
He took the plate and threw it into the air. Gandalf and Hope strayed from the passage, avoiding the plate that went into Kili's hands. The latter threw it at Bifur in the kitchen, and the Dwarves did the same with all the plates.
Bilbo began to panic now.
"Excuse me! That's my mother's Westfarthing pottery, it's over a hundred years old! Please, no!"
Hope forgot Gandalf and joined the Dwarves by casting spells on the plates, fearing for her host.
And the Dwarves began to beat on the table with utensils and their fists.
Horrified, Bilbo begged them in a small fearful voice:
"And…and, ca…can you not do that, you'll blunt them!"
Hope, ensuring that the plates were intact with her spells, began to bewitch the cutlery of the table as well.
Bofur pretended to be worried.
"Ooh, d'you hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives!"
And the Dwarves began to sing, throwing dishes on the table:
Blunt the knives, bend the forks
Chip the glasses and crack the plates
Smash the bottles and burn the corks
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 crooks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you're finished, if they are whole
Send them down the hall to roll.
Gandalf laughs while smoking and watching the Dwarves clean the dishes. While casting spells on the dishes, Hope noticed the strange reflexes of the Dwarves who threw and stacked all the dishes without breaking them. She stopped her spells and seemed amused. Even Alaric was stunned and amazed. He found that the Dwarves were very different from the students at the Salvatore Boarding School. And he recognized that they could sing well. Their voices seemed so natural.
Hope remained close to them, humming their song.
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Bilbo was furious with anger, but when he entered the kitchen, he saw that all his plates and cutlery were carefully cleaned and stacked. Gandalf and the Dwarves laughed at his reaction.
Hope began to add, singing in turn:
That's what Bilbo Baggins likes!
Clean and intact dishes and cutlery
The Dwarves were amused and laughed even more. And Hope joined their hilarity. She had never had so much fun like that. These very strange Dwarves were also very fun and entertaining.
"This is so much fun, lads! I'm happy to meet you!" exclaimed the Tribrid laughing.
Alaric was stunned. Seeing Hope laugh and have fun was something he didn't see every day. He felt like he was seeing another Hope.
Stunned, he joined her.
"Are you all right?"
Hope regained her composure and spoke to her Headmaster with joy.
"I haven't had that kind of fun in a long time! These Dwarves are really good company. I think I'll soon get used to them. They're nicer than Alyssa Chang."
"No kidding," replied Alaric, giggling with fun.
Then there were blows at the door that echoed throughout the house. Gandalf stopped laughing and took a serious tone.
"He is here."
"Who?" said Hope, confused.
"The missing Dwarf," replied Alaric. "There are thirteen of them. Not twelve."
Even the Dwarves had stopped laughing. All had suddenly become silent.
All joined the entrance. It was Gandalf who opened the front door of Bag End. The door opened on a Dwarf with broad shoulders and long black hair, with a sky blue coat. The two visitors from the other world noticed that this new Dwarf, unlike the others, had a very imposing appearance and did not seem to have any juvenile manners.
The new Dwarf greeted the magician upon entering the house.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
Hope and Alaric noticed that the other Dwarves bowed their heads to the sight of their new fellow. It was obvious that the last to come was to be a leader or someone belonging to a royalty.
"Mark?" wondered Bilbo. "There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago."
"There is a mark. I put it there myself." replied Gandalf.
"When you left us here during the day," said Hope, understanding.
"Absolutely," replied the magician, shaking his head. (Then he introduced himself.) "Bilbo Baggins. Alaric Saltzman. Hope Mikaelson. Allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield."
Dwarf Thorin glanced at Hope and Alaric, curiously staring at their clothing. He had never seen humans dressed like them. Then he turned to Bilbo.
"So… this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"
"Pardon me?" asked Bilbo with confusion.
"Ax or sword?" replied Thorin, ignoring the halfling. "What's your weapon of choice?"
Attempting to impress the leader of the Dwarves, Bilbo took a serious tone.
"Well, I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know… but I fail to see why that's relevant."
"Thought as much," replied Thorin, sighing with a broken air. "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
"I think you're judging too quickly," Alaric said. "You just met him. Wait till he proves himself."
Thorin turned to the man with an unpleasant look.
"I don't need a man in strange clothes to tell me what to do. You have no idea who I am. You don't know who you're talking to."
"You don't know who we are, either," added Hope in a heartbeat. "And you should be a little more courteous with your host."
"And you are the guests of Gandalf," said Thorin, looking at the Tribrid with curiosity. "Do you know how to beat, Mr. Saltzman?"
"I know how to fight against supernatural creatures," replied Alaric categorically. "I stopped counting the number of monsters I killed."
"What about your child?"
"I'm not a child," said Hope, outraged. "My name is Hope, and I'm a witch."
At his words, all the Dwarves seemed baffled, with the exception of Oin who adjusted his auditory trumpet.
"What did she say? What the hell is she?"
Furious, Thorin stared at Hope with round eyes, then turned to Gandalf.
"You have hidden from us that there is a witch among us tonight."
"Hope and Alaric did not choose to be there," said Gandalf firmly. "Neither of them is a danger to us. They are lost like you, and I want to help them find their way back. They're no more of a danger to you than Bilbo or me."
"And a little courtesy would be nice," added Alaric, in an imposing voice.
Thorin once again looked at the two newcomers from another world, then came to ask:
"Where is supper?"
Later, the Dwarves returned to the table with their leader Thorin. Bilbon, Hope and Alaric had moved away from the table. Thorin took what there was to eat, while Balin came to ask him:
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"
"Aye, envoys from all Seven Kingdoms." replied Thorin.
The other Dwarves cheered with joy, when Dwalin also addressed the leader:
"And what did the Dwarves of the Iron Hill say? Is Dain with us?"
"They will not come," replied Thorin, with a defeatist sigh. "They say this Quest is ours, and ours alone."
At his words, all the Dwarves showed a mine of defeat and disappointment.
"You're doing a Quest?" asked curious Bilbo.
"That's what they said earlier," added Hope to the Hobbit.
"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." asked Gandalf kindly, unfolding a map on the table. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
Bilbo appeared with a candle lit in his hand. Hope and Alaric looked at the unfolded map of the magician. A map that indicated an east-up orientation. There was a mountain drawn on it with an indication: "The Lonely Mountain." And above the mountain, a red dragon was depicted.
The two visitors from the other world questioned the significance of the dragon above the drawing of the Mountain. Did that mean there would be a dragon in that mountain?
They saw a river that started from the Mountain, as well as an indication where it was written "The Desolation of Smaug". Smaug? Who was that Smaug?
Hope also noticed on the left of the map inscriptions written in a language completely foreign to the Tribride. She could not read this unknown language.
"The Lonely Mountain?"read Bilbo next to Hope.
"That's where you're going?" Alaric guessed, looking at the Dwarves.
Gloin intervened in the conversation:
"Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say: it is time."
"Time for what?" asked Hope, confused.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold.' added Oin. "When the birds of the old return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
Hope and Alaric seemed shocked at the mention of the beast.
"When you say the beast, you mean the dragon on the map?" asked the Tribrid.
"Is it a real dragon?" added Alaric, stunned. "Not just a metaphor or a trick?"
"The Beast… a dragon?" cried Bilbo, suddenly afraid.
"Yes, the dragon Smaug, the terrible," replied Bofur, smoking a pipe. "Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals"
"We know what a dragon is," replied Alaric in a dry manner.
"Have you ever faced a dragon where you come from?" asked Thorin, looking at the Headmaster.
"We've already beaten one," said Hope with determination.
"You beat a dragon?" Fili marvelled.
Alaric hastened to answer instead of the Tribride.
"Yes… but I have the feeling that the one you are talking about is much more dangerous and bigger."
Ori rose from his chair and spoke with an imposing force.
"I'm not afraid, I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the dwarfish iron right up his jacksy!"
The others encouraged him, while his brother brought him back to his chair.
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us," added Balin with seriousness and wisdom. "But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."
"If you have to go and face a dragon, it's going to be a problem," said Alaric.
"Indeed," replied Balin, nodding.
"Hey! Who are you calling dim?" replied Ori furiously.
This triggered a series of whispers among the assembly of Dwarves, when Fili spoke:
"We may be few in number. But we're fighters, all of us! (He punched his fist on the table.) To the last dwarf!"
"And you forget we have a wizard in our company! added his brother Kili with enthusiasm. "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
Embarrassed, Gandalf tried to calm the tempers.
"Oh, well. No, uh, I…I wouldn't say…"
"How many then?" asked Dori. "Well, how many dragons have you killed? And Lady Hope and Mr. Saltzman killed how many dragons?"
"It's Hope, please, you don't have to call me Lady Hope. Just Hope," replied the Tribrid categorically.
"Just one was killed," replied Alaric. "And I think this Smaug must be much more bigger!"
Gandalf was coughing with his pipe, finally not answering Dori's question. And the Dwarves began to quarrel with each other, becoming increasingly furious.
Thorin then jumped out of his chair, silencing the rest of the group.
"Shazara!"
The Dwarves stopped arguing and contemplated their leader in silence.
Thorin spoke as he looked at his companions:
"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 now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?"
All the Dwarves cheered him on as Thorin issued a call to arms:
"Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"
And the cheers continued more and more. But Balin spoke again with a defeatist look:
"You forget, the Front Gate is sealed. There is no way into the Mountain."
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true."replied Gandalf, enigmatic, making a key adorned in his hand appear out of nowhere.
"How come you by this?" exclaimed Thorin, shocked.
"It was given to me by your father. By Thrain. For safekeeping. It is yours now." replied the magician, giving the precious key to the King of Dwarves.
"If there is a key, there must be a door." said Fili.
Hope looked at the map and looked again at the strange inscriptions on it.
"Gandalf, what does it say?" she asked.
"You do well to notice, young Hope," replied Gandalf, with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes. "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the Lower Halls."
"There's another way in." exclaimed Kili, ecstatic.
"Well, if we can find it," said the Magician, in a tone that meant that the task was not simple. "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."
"And I guess they're not here," said Alaric.
Gandalf shook his head before continuing:
"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." (He punctuated his sentence by looking at both Bilbo, Hope and Alaric.)
"That's why we need a burglar." said Ori.
"Hmm. And a good one too. An expert, I'd imagine."added Bilbo, joining the conversation.
"And are you?" asked Gloin.
Hope and Alaric then understood why all had come to the Hobbit.
"That's why you want to hire Bilbo," said Hope.
"Am I what?" asked Bilbo confused.
"He says he is an expert," exclaimed Oïn with his ear trumpet.
"No, no, he didn't say that!" exclaimed Hope, trying to make the deaf Dwarf understand that he was wrong.
"Me? No. No, no, no." Bilbo said firmly. "I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life."
"Well, I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins." replied Balin, sighing. "He's hardly burglar material."
"Nope," said the Hobbit categorically.
Dwalin intervened in the conversation with the same defeatist look of his brother."
"Aye, the Wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves.
And the Dwarves fought again. Tired of their incessant arguments, Gandalf jumped up his chair and spoke with a voice that echoed throughout the house, making the room darker and shocking Hope and Alaric.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."
The darkness dissipated, while the Dwarves had stopped their quarrels and looked at the magician with amazement.
Even Hope remained speechless in the face of the magician's demonstration of power.
"Woh!"
Gandalf advised the Dwarves.
"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 sat down looking at Thorin, still hardly convinced.) You asked me to find the 14th member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's 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. (Addressing Thorin.) You must trust me on this."
"Very well. We will do it your way." said Thorin.
"No, no", protested Bilbo.
"What about these two?" asked Thorin, pointing to Hope and Alaric. "We don't need to be encumbered by a child and a very badly dressed man."
"I'm sorry, what?" said Alaric, outraged.
"I'm a witch," said Hope, furious, not appreciating the apparent indifference of the King of Dwarves. "And I've been in fights before. I am able to fight and defend myself. Mr. Saltzman can attest to that. He too is an excellent fighter."
"Although I hardly know them, these two people could make a good contribution to this Quest," said Gandalf, looking at Hope and Alaric with interest. "Even Lady Hope might surprise you. She's stronger than appearances say. And I am convinced that she is more than that and will be delighted to unveil her talents during this journey."
"You don't have to call me Lady Hope, Mr Gandalf," replied Hope, blushing. "Just call me Hope."
But Alaric was not very enthusiastic about the idea of accompanying a group of Dwarves to face a Dragon.
"Gandalf! You were supposed to help us get home! Don't ask us to accompany you to… a Lonely Mountain…"
"And I will keep my word, Alaric Saltzman," assured Gandalf. "This strange magic that brought you here is unknown to me, and I doubt you'll be here by chance. I have the feeling that the key to getting you back to your world is at the end of our journey to Erebor."
Hope and Alaric reflected on the magician's words, while Thorin turned to Balin.
"Give the contract to Hobbit."
The old Dwarf took out a paper document and passed it to Bilbo, which unfolded and began to read it.
"It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."
"Funeral arrangements?" Bilbo marvelled at the anguish.
The Hobbit moved away from the dining room, to read the entire contract in the corridor. While Thorin murmured in Gandalf:
"I cannot guarantee his safety."
"Understood," said the magician.
"Nor will I be responsible for his fate. No more than the witch and the man who accompanies her."
"Hope and I can hear you." said Alaric, glaring furiously at the King of Dwarves.
"And we are able to defend ourselves," said Hope, firmly.
While Bilbo was reading the long list on the contract.
"Total's cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding, one fourteenth of total profit if any.' Seems fair. Uh… The present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including, but not limited to…lacerations. Evisceration. (He looked at the Dwarves with fright.) Incineration?"
Hope and Alaric joined him, while Bofur shrugged casually:
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye."
Bilbo began to tremble and pale with fright.
"You alright, laddie?" asked Balin with concern.
"Huh? Yeah," replied Bilbo, inspiring. "I fe…I feel a bit faint."
"Breathe, just breathe," said Alaric, gently.
"Think furnace, with wings." continued Bofur, with indifference.
"I need air," replied Bilbo, blowing.
Hope tried to calm him down.
"Would you like a glass of water?"
While Dwarf Bofur continued to explain without noticing that he made the Hobbit uncomfortable.
"Flash of light, searing pain, then poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash!"
"Enough!" said Alaric, overzealous. "Can't you see you're making him uncomfortable?"
One moment passed, Bilbo seemed to have come to his senses. All set it with concern. Then…
"No."
And he faints in his hallway. Hope and Alaric hastened to catch up with him.
"Bilbo!" cried the Tribrid, supporting the Hobbit.
"We have to lay him down," said Alaric.
"Oh, very helpful, Bofur." exclaimed Gandalf sarcastically to the Dwarf.
Later, Bilbo sat quietly in an armchair, with a cup of tea that Alaric had prepared for him to calm his nerves. Gandalf was standing right in front of him, staring at him with determination.
"I'll be all right." said Bilbo, holding the cup of tea in his hand. "Just let me sit quietly for a moment."
"You've been sitting quietly for far too long." replied Gandalf casually. "Tell me, when did doilies and your mother's dishes... become so important to you? I remember a young Hobbit who was always running off in search of Elves in the woods. Who would 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 of the Shire. The world is not in your books and maps. It's out there."
He showed the outside of the house from the window.
Hope, not far away to watch over the Hobbit, intervened with astonishment.
"Do you mean that Bilbo has never gone further than the Shire?"
"No," answered Gandalf.
"I can't just go running off into the blue." replied Bilbo, adamant and uncompromising. "I am a Baggins of Bag End."
"You are also a Took." reminded Gandalf in an imposing voice by showing a framed portrait of a Hobbit hanging on the wall. "Did you know that your great-great-great-great-uncle Bullroarer Took was so large, he could ride a real horse?"
"Yes," admits Bilbo without enthusiasm.
"Yes, well, he could." repeated the magician insistently. "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 100 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."
Astonished, Hope looked at the framed portrait, as well as the wizard.
"Is this story true? Did that really happen? It's not made up?"
"This story is as true as the fact that you and Mr. Saltzman were in Middle-earth, Hope Mikaelson," replied Gandalf, smiling.
"I do believe you made that up." Bilbo pointed out, still unconvinced.
"Well, all good stories deserve embellishment." said the magician, sitting across from the Hobbit. "You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back."
"I think I too will have a lot to say if I go back to my world," Hope remarked ecstatically.
Gandalf gave her an enthusiastic smile.
"Can you promise that I will come back?" asked anxious Bilbo.
Gandalf hesitated to answer, wanting to be honest, then ended up saying:
"No. And if you do… you will not be the same."
"Mr Baggins," added Hope, kneeling in front of the Bilbo chair. "I can't promise you'll come home, but I can promise you I'll do anything to protect you, if you come with us. Because that decision is yours."
She turned to Gandalf, who agreed with her words. They couldn't force Bilbo to join them.
After a moment of reflection, Bilbo rose from his chair.
"Sorry, Gandalf, I can't sign this. You've got the wrong Hobbit."
And he left his living room, no doubt to go to one of his rooms.
In the corridor, Balin and Thorin were leaning against the wall and looking at Bilbo towards his bunk. The old Dwarf said to his King:
"It appears we have lost our burglar. Probably for the best. The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy makers. Hardly the stuff of legend."
"There are a few warriors among us," said Thorin, with an encouraging look.
"Old warriors," Balin went on.
"I would take each and every one of these Dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills, for when I called upon them, they answered. Loyalty, honor, a willing heart. I can ask no more than that."
Balin had known Thorin for a very long time. Since the days when Erebor prospered under the Dwarves. When the Dragon Smaug came to destroy everything, it was the young Prince Thorin who saved his life, and ever since, even after the fall of Erebor, he had never turned his back on him. He was faithful to it. But he also knew that the gold of the Lonely Mountain possessed was evil and feared that Thorin would suffer the same fate as his father.
A little hesitant, Balin advanced towards him.
"You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains. A life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor."
"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me." decreed Thorin, showing him the ornate key that Gandalf had given him. "They dreamt of the day when the Dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me."
"Then we are with you, laddie." assured old Dwarf with determination. "We will see it done."
After greeting Gandalf and all the Dwarves, Hope and Alaric had isolated themselves in one of the rooms of Bag End to be able to discuss among themselves.
"Hope, what do we do?" asked Alaric, once they were sure they were alone. "Are we really going to accompany these Dwarves to their Mountain and go kill a Dragon?"
Understanding her Headmaster, the Tribride replied:
"I want to go home as much as you do. Even though I had a lot of fun with the Dwarves before this Thorin guy showed up, I want to go home. But we have a problem. You said it yourself that we are stuck in this world. If I knew a spell to take us home, I would have done it, right now. But we don't know what brought us here. We know nothing of this world, nor of the supernatural creatures that inhabit it. We don't know where to go. Gandalf's a powerful wizard, have you seen him? He's the only one who can help us get home. We might as well trust him. What are our options? Do we really have a choice?"
"It will surely be a very dangerous journey," said Alaric. "We don't know why we're here… There are certainly other creatures even more monstrous than a Dragon…"
"Mr Saltzman, if you have a better idea, I am all ears."
Alaric remained silent, not knowing what to answer. Hope was telling the truth. Middle-earth was completely unknown to them, they knew no one and had nowhere to go. Their options were weak.
"All right, we will follow these Dwarves in their Quest and at the same time we try to find a way to bring us home," he decided.
Hope nodded, approving the plan.
During the night, Thorin began to sing in front of all the Dwarves, then some imitated him:
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.
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.
The melancholy song acted on Hope and Alaric sleeping in bunks that Bilbo had passed them to spend the night. The Tribrid adjusted her cover by listening to the song like a lullaby, questioning the journey that was to begin the next day.
She was far from imagining the phenomenal scale of this adventure.
This chapter has been long, but I am pleased with the result. Hope and Alaric have now met the Dwarves and will take part in the Quest of Erebor.
Hope is starting to get to know the people of Middle-earth, and she's going to reveal herself a lot during the adventure. Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves will soon realize that Hope is much more than a witch.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.