of the elves in Middle-Earth is truly ending.
Charlotte is going in the direction of Ered Luin to visit her friends when she quite literally bumps into Gandalf the Grey, and says.
"Gandalf the Grey what brings you to these parts?" Charlotte
"I could say the same thing to you Charlotte of Lorien." Gandalf
"I am going to visit my friends in Ered Luin." Charlotte
"You have friends among the Dwarves! What an interesting development." Gandalf
"Yes it has been awhile since I have visited Thorin and his family." Charlotte
"If it's Thorin you're looking to visit then you're going the wrong way." Gandalf
"What do you mean I'm going the wrong way?" Charlotte
"Thorin is gone to prepare for a very important quest." Gandalf
"What quest?" Charlotte
"The quest to retake Erebor from Smaug." Gandalf
"Sounds dangerous." Charlotte
"Yes quite dangerous. In fact we could use all the help we can get." Gandalf
"In that case how can I help?" Charlotte
Gandalf ponders the question, and answers with a twinkle in his eye saying.
"In two days there will be a meeting of those who are going on the quest be there in time for supper, and you shall have your opportunity to help the Dwarves of Erebor." Gandalf
"I'll be there. I would never miss an opportunity to help my friends." Charlotte
"Good. Now if you'll excuse me I have arrangements to make." Gandalf
As Gandalf starts walking away Charlotte remembers an undiscussed detail, and says.
"Wait Gandalf where is the meeting being held?" Charlotte
"In the Shire at the home of Bilbo Baggins. Now I really must be off." Gandalf
Charlotte smiles as Gandalf leaves before turning back to travelling down the road to Ered Luin.
When Charlotte arrives at Ered Luin the guards at the gate recognize her immediately, and open the gate allowing Charlotte entrance to the settlement. As Charlotte is walking down the street on the way to visit Lady Dis Balin walks up to her, and says.
"Miss Charlotte." Balin
"Balin old friend it's good to see you again." Charlotte
"As it is to see you. Here for another visit?" Balin
"Yes, and on my way here I bumped into a wizard who told me something very interesting about Thorin." Charlotte
Charlotte smiles knowingly at Balin who says.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere more private?" Balin
"Yes we should." Charlotte
Balin escorts Charlotte to his office where they can discuss these matters more privately.
When they get to his office they sit down, and Balin says.
"The wizard told you that some of us are going to try to take the mountain back from the dragon?" Balin
"Yes, and he told me that you could use all the help you could get. So naturally I volunteered to join the quest." Charlotte
"Just like that?" Balin
"Of course I would never miss an opportunity to help my friends." Charlotte
Balin chuckles, and says.
"Miss Charlotte you are truly an exceptional elf. The only thing that worries me is Thorin's reaction to you should he fall to the sickness." Balin
"Not to worry Balin. If Thorin should fall I will catch him." Charlotte
"What do you mean Lass?" Balin
"When Thror became ill with the dragon sickness I started working on developing a way to use the magic of the Sea Children to cure the dragon sickness, and under the strict tutelage of Lord Elrond I have succeeded in doing so." Charlotte
"Are you sure that it will be enough?" Balin
"Balin old friend using this skill I have enough power to purge Smaug himself of all his evil. So curing one sick Dwarrow is nothing." Charlotte
"In that case Miss Charlotte I am even more glad that you have decided to join us on this quest." Balin
"Thank you Balin. Now what can I do to help prepare for the quest." Charlotte
"Well all of my preparations are almost finished. Why don't you go help Fílí and Kílí with their preparations?" Balin
"No problem I will also visit with Dís while I'm there." Charlotte
"I'm sure that she will appreciate that very much Miss Charlotte." Balin
Charlotte smiles, and leaves the room to go help as was requested of her. After she is gone Balin thanks his Maker that Miss Charlotte has come into their lives for if she hadn't things would have gone very differently than they have.
Charlotte arrives at Dís' house, and knocks on the door waiting to be allowed in. Dís answers the door, and is pleasantly surprised to see Charlotte standing on her porch waiting to be let in. Dís smiles, steps aside, and says.
"Charlotte it's so good to see you again. Please come in." Dís
"Gladly Dís." Charlotte
Charlotte walks into the house, and sees the lads bustling around getting ready for their upcoming adventure. Kílí sees her, and says.
"Miss Charlotte. You're here. Sorry we can't visit right now we're busy." Kílí
"I know that you are busy, and I also know what has you so thoroughly occupied." Charlotte
"What! How?" Kílí
"Gandalf told me about the quest, and he said that you could use all of help you can get. So naturally I volunteered to help." Charlotte
"Just like that?" Fílí
"Of course. I would never pass up an opportunity to help my friends." Charlotte
Fílí and Kílí smile warmly at her, and say.
"In that case could you give us a hand?" Kílí
"Sure. What do you need me to do?" Charlotte
Fílí and Kílí tell Charlotte all of the things that they have to do to finish getting ready for the quest, and before Dís realizes what happened Charlotte is bustling around the house helping Fílí and Kílí with the preparations.
When all is ready Charlotte, Fíli, and Kíli are left to wait for Thorin to call for them although it is actually Fílí and Kílí he is calling for Charlotte will be an unexpected but pleasant surprise. While they wait Charlotte regales the three Dwarves with tales of the renewed splendour of Númenor as well as her mischief making in Lothlorien. Fílí and Kílí enjoy this part the best causing Dís to groan picturing the antics her sons are going to get into with Charlotte's tales as their inspiration. She just hopes that who ever is on the receiving end of their pranks be they elf, dwarf, man, or sea child that they shake off the joke with laughter instead of getting mad at her sons. After dinner the four of them retire to bed, and the next morning after breakfast Thorin calls Fílí and Kílí. Charlotte and the lads bid Dís fair well, and head out of the city in the direction of the Shire.(Though Thorin's daughter Faron is involved she will only be mentioned here in passing, or in flash backs later on in the story. If you wish to read more about her involvement in the quest read A Light in the Darkness by Faron Oakenshield.) The four of them arrive at Bilbo's house a few minutes after Balin, and ring the doorbell. As soon as Bilbo answers the door the three of them introduce themselves saying.
"Fílí, Kílí, and Charlotte at your service." Fílí, Kílí, and Charlotte
"You must be Mr. Boggins." Kílí
"No you can't come in you've come to the wrong house." Bilbo
"Has it been cancelled?" Kílí
"No one told us." Fílí
"Can...No nothing's been cancelled." Bilbo
"Well that's a relief." Kílí
They push their way into the house causing Charlotte to shake her head at the poor manners her friends are displaying. When Dwalin sees Charlotte standing next to the lads he grumbles, but doesn't complain since she has ever been a loyal friend to them.
The rest of the Dwarves show up falling to a heap on Bilbo's floor, and then Bilbo sees Gandalf who he now knows is the cause of all this. The Dwarves begin preparing for a feast as Gandalf is counting the Dwarves and Elves. The count comes up revealing that they are one Dwarf short, and Dwalin says.
"He's late is all. He went north to a meeting of our kin. He will come." Dwalin
During the feast Fílí walks on the table passing out Ale to everyone including Charlotte and Faron. The Dwarves seem to be giving Bilbo a great deal of stress which he expresses to Gandalf. Once the party mess is cleaned up there is a thumping knock on the door, and it is revealed to be Thorin. Thorin interrogates Bilbo, and he is less than impressed by what he finds. Thorin then goes into the dinning room with the other Dwarves as well as Faron, and finds Charlotte there waiting for him. He steps back a step at the sight, but asks in a friendly manner saying.
"Miss Charlotte what are you doing here?" Thorin
"I was on my way to visit you in Ered Luin when I bumped into Gandalf, and he told me about the quest. When he said that you could use all the help you can get I volunteered immediately." Charlotte
Thorin smiles at this, and says.
"I would expect no less from you, but Charlotte I hope you realize that this quest is going to take significantly longer than six months." Thorin
"I am aware of that." Charlotte
"What of your promise to Ulmo?" Thorin
"I'll have to go for a swim in a river, and ask Ulmo if he is willing to make an exception due to the urgency of our quest." Charlotte
"A sound plan let's hope that you get a satisfactory answer from the Vala of the seas." Thorin
Charlotte smiles and nods in reply to Thorin's response.
While Thorin eats his supper they discuss the meeting in Ered Luin, and the topic of the dragon comes up, and Thorin picks that moment to look at Charlotte, and he can tell that she has something planed for the dragon. Balin goes on to say that the task is to large for just fifteen, and Fílí says.
"We may be few in number, but we're fighters all of us to the last Dwarf and Elf." Fílí
Kílí expresses that he is of the opinion that Gandalf had to have killed many dragon in his time, and Gandalf makes it clear that he has not. An argument ensues, and Thorin puts an end to it before making a speech about the urgency of the quest. Faron brings up an over looked detail saying.
"But, father, you forget, that the front gate is sealed." Faron
"Faron is right. There is no way into the mountain." Balin
"That my dear Balin is not entirely true." Gandalf
After Gandalf produces the key Thorin says.
"How came you by this?" Thorin
"It was given to me by your father by Thrain. For safekeeping it is yours now." Gandalf
"If there is a key there must be a door." Fílí
Gandalf points to the map with the stem of his pipe, and says.
"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls." Gandalf
"There's another way in." Kílí
"Well if we can find it, but Dwarf door 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 cleaver I believe that it can be done." Gandalf
A conversation then ensues about Bilbo's qualifications as a burglar, and all of the Dwarves summarily agree that he is right after all. To which Gandalf vehemently disagrees, and tells them of Hobbit qualities that would make him a fine burglar. Gandalf tells Thorin that he has chosen Bilbo to be the fourteenth member of the company not including Charlotte and Faron who volunteered on their own. He then explains to Thorin why he has chosen Bilbo as their burglar. Thorin does indeed trust Gandalf, and gives him the contract. As Bilbo is reading the contract Bofur scares him so much he faints dead away, and they carry him to the living room.
Bilbo and Gandalf have a conversation which ends in Bilbo saying no to signing the contract. Balin, Faron, and Thorin have a conversation about the quest, and after Thorin affirms that they are indeed going to reclaim Erebor for their people they go into the living room. They sing 'Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold', and Charlotte adds harmony to the song with her voice sounding like the sea as it laps at the shore. The next morning Bilbo wakes up to an empty house, and when he sees the contract sitting on the table he signs it and runs out the door with his mothers travel pack. Bilbo catches up to the company, and after showing Balin the signed contract he officially welcomes him to the company of Thorin Oakenshield. After which they give him a pony, and travel on further down the road to Erebor. Charlotte chuckles at the wagering that happened over whether Bilbo would be joining them or not all the while pocketing her own winnings. They travel far and wide before settling down for the night during which time the lads pull a most unsavoury prank on Bilbo, and then are firmly rebuked by Thorin. Balin goes on to explain to Fílí and Kílí why Thorin hates Orcs more than most by telling them of the battle for Moria. When Bilbo asks what had happened to the Pale Orc Charlotte gets the distinct impression that it is not dead like Thorin believes based on what has not been said aloud by Balin and Gandalf. Charlotte decides that she will deal with him the first opportunity that she gets even if she has to use a level of power she hasn't used in centuries so be it, but even so Charlotte is aware that she might not get the opportunity to do so. As they are riding the next day Dori asks Gandalf a question as they are ridding saying.
"Here Mr. Gandalf can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori
"It is raining Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard, or perhaps Charlotte of Lorien may be willing to do something." Gandalf
Everybody looks at Charlotte, and Charlotte glares at Gandalf for making the suggestion. Gandalf smiles at Charlotte in a way that tells her this payback for causing him to be mercilessly teased by Lord Elrond. Charlotte sighs, and says.
"Yes I have the power to influence the weather, however I am not sure if I could stop the rain or just make it worse." Charlotte
"Um why not?" Bilbo
"Because I have not used that level of power in six hundred years." Charlotte
"Could you please try Miss Charlotte? We are all cold and wet it would be a great help if you could do something." Kílí
Charlotte looks at Kílí who is giving her his best puppy dog eyes, and at the water-logged Dwarves and Elf before saying.
"Alright Kílí I will try, but don't say I didn't warn you." Charlotte
Charlotte uses her original gesture which is now the universal gesture for the power over the weather, and the rain immediately stops. Charlotte discontinues the gesture hoping that the rain will stay stopped, and sighs in relief when she sees that it did indeed work. Gandalf gives her a sour look, but continues to ride none the less. Bilbo notices the look on Gandalf's face, and says.