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Introductions
That evening, Melliel slowly strolled around the Shire, smiling to herself as she enjoyed the pleasant breeze and listened to the symphony of chirping crickets.
It hadn't been a very eventful day after her and Gandalf's not so successful attempt to recruit Bilbo Baggins into their company. With nothing to do but wait for the dwarves to arrive, Melliel and Gandalf passed the time exploring the Shire, perusing the marketplace and mingling with the locals in the Green Dragon. Once the sun had started to go down, they had gone back to the field where they had secured their horses and made a small camp, where they settled in to wait for the company to show up.
Yet night had fallen now, and there was still no sign of their dwarven companions. So Melliel had left Gandalf to keep watch and had gone for another walk to stretch her legs.
The Shire really was something special. The homes were lovely, the landscape was breathtaking, and the hobbits who lived there were positively delightful to interact with. It must have been nice to live in such a place, she decided. As interesting as the rest of Middle Earth was, as much as there was to see and experience, there was no denying that the outside world came with numerous dangers and risks. But in the Shire, that wasn't the case. It was its own little world, tucked safely away from the dangers of the rest of Middle Earth, where life was simple and quiet.
Melliel was never one to stay in any place for too long, but she found herself seriously considering coming back to the Shire at some point to enjoy an extended stay. A life where she could enjoy nature, eat delicious food, and not worry about much of anything? That didn't sound half bad.
She walked around aimlessly for a little while, just taking in the sights, saying hello to any hobbits she crossed paths with. It was close to dinnertime, she could tell because she could smell absolutely mouth-watering food wafting through the open windows of every house she passed by. When she heard raucous giggling coming from one house in particular, she paused and peered through their little window, her keen eyes allowing her to see the family inside clearly.
There was a family of five in the little home – a father, a mother, and three small children. They were all sitting around the dinner table, laughing and talking with one another as they dug into a feast that looked fit for a king. From what she could hear, the father was telling a very elaborate story, which was the cause for all the giggling. He even went so far as to stand on his chair and start gesturing wildly, using food and napkins for props, making his family laugh all the harder.
Melliel smiled softly to herself, finding the happiness of the family inside infectious.
But then she felt a distinct twinge of jealousy, and her smile slowly fell. A melancholy feeling started to creep in, making Melliel sigh quietly to herself. Finally she turned away from the home and moved on.
She did not stop again until she came upon a lake flanked with tall trees and divine smelling flowers. Melliel stood on the bank, her eyes taking in the still waters that had been turned a pearly white color from the moon overhead. Her gaze then turned up to the stars, shining bright and clear on this cloudless night.
She kept thinking about the happy little family she had just seen, the way they had been together, how they had talked and laughed and enjoyed a comfortable night together in their warm, loving home.
She had had that once, a very long time ago. When she had been young, when her father had still been alive and her mother had not yet perished, they had enjoyed countless nights just like the one the hobbit family currently was. Melliel could recall sitting around the dinner table or around the hearth, talking and laughing with her parents as they told stories and talked about the things they had done that day…or, in Melliel's case, the mischief she had gotten up to. Those had been some of the happiest days of her life. Having her parents with her every day, always feeling safe and loved. Life back then had been nearly perfect.
But those days were long gone. Melliel had been on her own for a very long time now, and though she had seen and done much in her three hundred and ninety-six years, she had never been able to recapture the same happiness she had felt back then. Life had just…never quite been the same. She had never quite been the same. Melliel still missed her parents almost as fiercely as she had when she had first lost them, and that was something she did not think would ever change. The grief, the heartache, the longing to have just one more moment with them…it was never going to fully go away.
No matter where she went, no matter how much time passed, she would always miss her mother and father.
Melliel stood there for a while, eyes turned upward to the night sky, lost in her own memories. It wasn't until she heard a peculiar exchange that she was finally brought back to the present.
"Do you have to do this now?" an impatient voice asked. "Anyone could see you!"
"What would you have me do?" another, slightly more strained voice asked.
"We are very nearly there, and we are probably late already," the first voice responded. "Can you not wait just a little while longer?"
"No!" the second voice snapped. "And the longer we stand here arguing about it, the more likely I'm going to make a mess of myself! So just shut up and let me handle this!"
Melliel quirked a brow. The two that were arguing – male hobbits, if she had to guess – sounded like they were around a bend in the road to her right. Curious as to what exactly was going on, Melliel started that way, thinking that maybe someone might be in need of some assistance. She walked toward the voices, her footsteps silent against the dirt road, able to hear the annoyed muttering of the first hobbit while the second did whatever he had needed to.
She didn't really know what to expect when she finally rounded the bend and saw what was going on, but the sight that awaited her was one that immediately made her stop in her tracks.
There, barely ten yards away, stood a male with his trousers halfway to his knees, urinating on a bush.
She had been wrong in her assumption that the two voices had belonged to hobbits. The two dwarves – for there was absolutely no doubting that they were indeed dwarves – seemed oblivious to the fact that she was there. The one peeing in the bushes was far too caught up in his business, his head tilted backward as he made a sound of relief that was much louder than necessary. The other stood a few yards away from him, arms crossed and eyes rolling to the stars as he waited for his companion to finish up.
Melliel blinked in surprise, then smirked with amusement. "Well, this was unexpected."
Both dwarves startled at the sound of her voice. The one standing with his arms cross whipped around, his eyes round and wide now, while the one relieving his bladder yelped in fright.
"Mahal's beard!" he exclaimed when he saw her standing there, before immediately diving out of sight.
Melliel cringed a little, hoping that the dwarf had not just dived headfirst into something nasty. The other dwarf, however, began to laugh heartily.
"Hah! Did I not tell you to wait? Serves you right!" he taunted, pointing smugly at the bush concealing his companion from sight.
The other dwarf shouted something back, but she didn't understand what he said because it was in Khuzdul.
The dwarf not currently hiding in the bushes came toward her, still looking very much amused by this turn of events. The first thing Melliel noticed about him was the fact that he was young. He was not a dwarfling, but he was certainly more youthful than she had been expecting. He looked strong and sturdy, however, and was loaded down with weapons and gear for the quest to come. He came to a halt in front of her, his bearded face framed by long, blonde hair, his blue eyes still alight with amusement. It was then that she noticed his moustache, which had grown long enough for him to wear in two small braids on either side of his mouth. They moved when he grinned at her, which was rather distracting.
"Apologies for my younger brother, my lady," he said, pressing a hand to his chest. "I tried to warn him against such public indecency, but he decided to behave like an animal anyway."
"I can hear you!" the other dwarf grumbled from the foliage.
"You were meant to," the blonde dwarf quipped back without missing a beat.
Melliel smiled and held up an apologetic hand. "The fault was mine," she said, which made the blonde dwarf look back to her. "I should have called out and made my presence known earlier so as not to catch anyone…off guard."
The blonde dwarf snorted. "You mean with his trousers down."
Melliel laughed. "Yes, that too."
The other dwarf finally emerged from the bushes, this time with his trousers in their proper place. He looked horribly embarrassed that she had caught him in a compromising position, his cheeks and ears still burning bright red. He was also incredibly annoyed with his brother for making fun of him, if the glare he shot at the blonde as he joined them was anything to judge by.
Once they were standing next to each other, Melliel was surprised by how different they looked. The other dwarf looked even younger, with dark, shoulder length hair and dark eyes. It seemed he was not yet old enough to grow a beard, since all he had was some stubble to show for his efforts. She supposed there was a bit of family resemblance between them if she looked hard enough for it, but she was fairly sure she would not have thought them brothers if they hadn't already told her.
The dwarf grumbled something to his brother, who still had a wide grin on his face, then turned a sheepish look on her. "Apologies for that, my lady," he said. "I did not think anyone else was around."
"No apologies are necessary," she said back reassuringly. "After all I have seen, it would take far more than that to offend me."
"Give him time," the blonde one interjected with a smirk. "Stick around him long enough, and he will surely do something to offend you eventually."
Melliel bit back a laugh as the dark-haired dwarf glared at his brother again. "Ignore him," he said, nodding his head toward the blonde and rolling his eyes dramatically. "He always has to have the last word."
"At least I wasn't the one caught by the lass with my trousers down," the blonde taunted.
The dark haired one let out a groan of frustration. "You're never going to let me live this down, will you?" he asked with disgruntlement.
"Never," the blonde confirmed.
Melliel smiled at the exchange. Their brotherly banter was amusing, and it was obvious that the two were very close to one another. She was beginning to like them already. "Well, I can assure you that there is one who will not tease you about this, and that is me," she reassured the dwarf.
He gave her a wide, charming smile, his embarrassment finally fading away. "And I thank you for that immensely," he said gratefully. "It would seem the tales are true. Hobbits are very kind creatures. Though…" The dwarf trailed off, frowning a bit as he looked her up and down. "You are quite a bit taller than I expected," he observed – the two dwarves only barely stood tall enough to be level with her shoulders. "I thought hobbit lasses were supposed to be wee little things," he said, tilting his head with confusion. "You, well…you're not wee at all, are you?"
Melliel shrugged a shoulder. "I suppose that would depend on who you are asking," she said, which only made the dwarf look even more confused.
Suddenly, the blonde one narrowed his eyes at her, as if he had just noticed something peculiar. In the next moment, his brows rose high on his forehead. "This lass is no hobbit, brother," he said, giving the dark haired one a look. "This lass is an elf."
The dark haired one looked at his brother as if a third eye had just popped out of his forehead. "An elf?" he repeated disbelievingly, before looking her over again. When his eyes finally landed on her pointed ears, realization dawned on his face. "Oh," he said simply, his brows shooting upward.
It wasn't the worst reaction, all things considered. "My name is Melliel," she proceeded to introduce, wanting to try to keep things friendly. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, master dwarves," she added, using a respectful, diplomatic voice that would have made her grandmother proud.
The blonde one seemed a little unsure of her now, but the dark haired one flashed another charming smile, looking unbothered by the fact that she was an elf. "And we are pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Melliel. My name is Kíli," he introduced, placing a hand on his chest. "And this ugly mug is Fíli," he added, motioning to the blonde.
Fíli ignored his brother's insult and instead gave her a scrutinizing look, one brow lifting higher than the other. "You do not look much like an elf," he commented.
"You are not the first person to think so," Melliel said with a nod. "I am only half elf," she revealed.
Understanding dawned on both of their faces. "I see," Fíli mused aloud.
"Only half elf? She cannot be all bad then, can she?" Kíli asked his brother with a nudge of his elbow.
Fíli didn't look entirely convinced. "Hard to say," he mused rubbing a hand over his chin and giving her another investigative once over, as if by looking hard enough he'd be able to tell if she was trustworthy or not.
While Fíli's scrutiny continued, Kíli tilted his head curiously. "If I may ask, what brings you to the Shire?" he inquired.
"A fair question," Fíli agreed. "Why are you in the Shire?"
Melliel wasn't sure how much she should tell the two dwarves just yet. She and Gandalf had decided that Thorin should be the first to know of her affiliation with the company, seeing as he was the one in charge. She did not want to lie to Kíli and Fíli, but she also didn't want them to run off and tell the rest of the company about her before she and Gandalf had a chance to talk with Thorin first.
"I am on a quest," she finally answered. Not a lie technically, but certainly not the entire truth.
Fíli seemed surprised, while Kíli suddenly laughed. "Well, what a coincidence! So are we!" he blurted out.
"Kíli!" Fíli immediately snapped, backhanding his brother none too gently in the stomach.
Fíli started speaking to Kíli in rapid Khuzdul, and even though she did not understand the language, it was clear by his tone that he was reprimanding his brother for his slip up. Melliel almost wanted to interject and assure Fíli that their secret was safe with her, just to save the now shamefaced Kíli from further berating. Before she could, however, Kíli finally held up his hands in surrender and seemed to apologize. Only then did Fíli stop lecturing him, though he still looked unhappy.
"Never mind what my brother said," Fíli implored, trying to damage control. "He was dropped on his head a few times as a dwarlfing and sometimes gets confused." After taking a moment to glare at Kíli, who looked pink around the ears again, Fíli look back to her. "While this has been an…interesting…meeting, I am afraid that there is somewhere we are supposed to be and we cannot linger any longer than we already have," Fíli informed her. "If you would excuse us, we should be on our way."
Melliel nodded, knowing fully well that this would not be the last time she interacted with the two dwarves. "Of course. I will not keep you from your business," she said with a smile. "Do you need help finding your destination?" she offered.
Fíli shook his head. "We can find the way just fine on our own, thank you."
"Very well," Melliel conceded. "I will bid you goodbye, then."
"Goodbye to you too, Lady Melliel," Fíli said in a formal voice.
She stepped to the side and motioned for them to continue on. Fíli inclined his head to her politely, then continued forward with determined steps, but Kíli lingered behind. He raised his gaze to hers, glanced at his brother's back, then gave her another sheepish smile.
"Apologies for leaving so abruptly," he told her with a shrug. "Fíli insists we carry on, though."
Melliel smiled. "That is quite alright." She looked at the retreating Fíli, then down at Kíli. "Are you in trouble?"
Kíli waved a hand. "Nah," he said dismissively. "I shall just have to be more careful about letting my mouth run away from me, is all," he admitted with a guilty shrug.
"Well, rest assured that your secret will be very safe with me," Melliel said with a nod.
Kíli smiled, looking greatly relieved. "Thank you, milady."
"Kíli! Come on!" Fíli called back when he noticed his brother was lagging behind.
Kíli nodded, then looked up at her again. "Perhaps we will meet again someday?" he asked, and he almost sounded hopeful.
Melliel nodded. "Perhaps we will," she said, knowing already that they absolutely would.
Kíli gave another charming grin, then bowed slightly. "Goodbye, Lady Melliel," he said politely.
"Goodbye, Master Kíli," she said in return.
Kíli finally hurried away to catch up with his brother. Melliel watched them go until they were no longer in her line of sight.
Once the dwarves were gone, Melliel smiled to herself. When Gandalf had asked her to join the quest, she had been convinced that she would be unanimously hated by the dwarves. Her meeting with Kíli and Fíli, however, had left her feeling far more optimistic. Kíli seemed to like her well enough, and even Fíli had not seemed too put off by the fact that she was an elf – a little skeptical, maybe, but certainly not rude or hostile. Perhaps, she mused to herself, she had been too quick to assume the worst. If Kíli and Fíli were open minded, then maybe the other dwarves would be, too.
With that thought in mind, Melliel started making her way back to where she had left Gandalf. Her meeting with the dwarven brothers meant the company was finally arriving, and it was all too likely that other dwarves would soon be in the Shire too. It was time to get back to camp and reunite with Gandalf and see if anyone else had arrived.
She just hoped now that the other dwarves would be as friendly as Kíli and Fíli had been.
When Melliel returned to camp, she found that some things had changed. For one, Gandalf was nowhere to be seen and the fire they had made earlier was no longer burning. The traveling pack that she had left with him was gone as well, and when she looked to the field where she and Gandalf had left their horses to graze, she saw that they had been joined by at least a dozen shorter, squatter ponies. Brows raising, she stared at the ponies for a moment before looking at the road. When she spotted numerous foot tracks heading in the direction of Bilbo Baggins' house, she thought it safe to say that the rest of the company had arrived in her absence.
Melliel sucked in a breath, then, knowing that Gandalf would expect her to follow them to Bag End, she stepped onto the main road and started toward Bilbo Baggins' little home.
When she reached Bag End, she stopped just outside the gate, listening to the many sounds now coming out of the hobbit hole. Heavy footsteps, several loud voices, and sporadic bursts of joyous laughter could be heard within. Opening the gate quietly, Melliel went to one of the windows and peered inside, watching as several dwarves all scurried around in the kitchen, already in the process of helping themselves to whatever Bilbo kept in his pantry.
From what she could see so far, the dwarves were quite an eccentric looking bunch. Their hairstyles and beard designs were all very different from one another, but each was just as intricate looking as the next. She smiled briefly when she saw Gandalf talking with a grey haired dwarf, then smiled even wider when Kíli walked past, grinning broadly, arm wrapped around the shoulders of a fellow wearing a floppy hat. Several dwarves burst out laughing in the dining room and began patting each other on the shoulders or whacking their own knees with amusement. It was obvious that they were all very good friends and that they were extremely happy to be seeing one another.
Melliel sighed and stepped away from the window. She was a little hungry, and she was pretty certain that whatever food they were cooking up was going to be delicious, but she was reluctant to go inside. Right now, in the safety of Bag End, the dwarves were having a happy reunion. As nice as Kíli and Fíli had been, there was still the lingering doubt that the others wouldn't be so accepting. She did not want to step inside and ruin the moment by forcing her company on them when they weren't ready for it, especially so considering she knew this would likely be the last carefree night they shared for a long, long time.
Melliel decided not to bother them. Instead of going to knock on the door, she turned away from the window and started back down the steps that led to the path down below. She only made it a few steps, however, when the door to Bilbo Baggins's home opened.
She turned and saw Gandalf stooping over to step through the much too small door. He must have spotted her through the window. "Melliel? Are you planning to join us?" he asked curiously.
Melliel glanced at the window again, where the dwarves were too preoccupied amongst themselves to notice her and Gandalf outside, and shook her head. "Not yet," she said, looking back to Gandalf. "They should have this time to themselves."
Gandalf nodded slowly, glanced behind him, then stepped closer. "Thorin has not yet arrived," he said. "Stay close, and keep an eye out for him. When he arrives, come and collect me. We will speak to him together, away from the others."
Melliel nodded in agreement. Gandalf flashed her an encouraging smile, then turned to head back inside when someone started calling his name. Once the wizard was gone, Melliel went to sit on the same bench Bilbo had been sitting on that morning and settled in to await the arrival of Thorin Oakenshield.
She sat there for a long while, just enjoying the breeze and the scenery and listening to the racket inside as Gandalf and the dwarves had dinner. Every so often she could hear Bilbo's voice amongst the chaos, trying hard to make himself be heard over the loud company that had invaded his home. The poor hobbit sounded so flabbergasted, and, honestly, quite miserable. She really did feel bad for him – having his home and kitchen raided by a bunch of rowdy dwarves and a meddling wizard was likely not how he had intended to spend his evening.
Right around the time she heard the unmistakable sounds of a belching contest taking place inside, Melliel happened to glance down at the rolling lands below Bag End and saw something that caught her attention.
Sitting up straighter, she watched as a figure that looked too tall and too stocky to be a hobbit stepped into view. He wore a travelling cloak and had long, wavy hair that swayed with the wind – her keen eyes could see a sword at his hip as well, the moonlight making the metal hilt gleam in the darkness of the night.
Melliel could tell straight away that he was a dwarf, which could mean only one thing.
Thorin Oakenshield had arrived.
Melliel stood with the intention of going to fetch Gandalf, just as she had been instructed, but paused when Thorin did not take the path that led to Bag End, as she had expected him to. Instead, he stood at a little crossroads for a moment, glancing right and then left, before he continued on down the wrong path and eventually disappeared from sight again.
Melliel frowned, unsure where he was going and wondering if he would find another path that would lead him to the correct destination. But about ten minutes later, the dwarf stepped into view again, having apparently back tracked as he stopped at the little crossroads for a second time. With a shake of her head, she watched as he went back the direction he had originally come from, until he, once again, stepped out of view.
Feeling certain now that he was lost and thinking it might take him ages to find Bag End if left to his own devices, Melliel glanced toward the home, where the rest of the company was still being loud as ever. Instead of going to get Gandalf, she stepped through the gate and started making her way down the hill to retrieve Thorin Oakenshield before he got himself anymore lost than he already was.
Melliel went in the direction the dwarf had gone, her pace unhurried. She paused at a fork in the path and listened out, until she was able to pick out the sounds of his heavy footsteps. Turning right, she continued to follow the sound of his stomping feet, until she rounded another hobbit hole and he came into view once more. Thorin had stopped up ahead, glancing around and muttering what she would guess to be curses in Khuzdul, sounding very annoyed with the fact that he couldn't find Bag End.
She slowly made her way closer, her silent steps going undetected by the dwarf. "It would seem you are lost," she said to catch his attention.
Thorin jumped at the sound of her voice and whirled around with alarm, clearly caught off guard by her sudden appearance. He stared at her for a moment, hand hovering over the sword that hung from his hip, then frowned deeply and let his gaze sweep her from head to toe. Melliel did the same, surveying his attire and his large sword, her eyes briefly landing on the ring he sported on one of his thick fingers. She was surprised to see that Thorin Oakenshield was actually quite tall for a dwarf – if they were to stand toe to toe, she didn't think she would be much more than a few inches taller than him. Melliel studied his face next, her eyes taking in the neatly trimmed beard, his long, straight nose, and his strong brow bone. When her gaze finally met his, there was a hint of suspicion in his blue eyes.
"Who are you?" Thorin asked, his voice a deep, warm baritone.
"I am Melliel," she answered simply.
"I do not know you," he stated obviously.
"No, you do not," she confirmed. "Would you like help finding your way?" she then offered.
He narrowed his eyes some, his gaze sweeping over her again. He looked at the sword on her hip for a long moment, then looked up to her face again, his expression quite hard to read. But then his eyes flickered to her ears, and suddenly his expression wasn't so unreadable anymore. The sudden scowl on his face immediately told her that he was not happy to be talking to an elf.
"I do not need help, least of all from an elf," he said bitingly.
With that, he turned to continue on with his head held high. Melliel let him get a few feet before calling out to him. "You are going the wrong way," she said matter-of-factly. "Keep on that way and you shall leave Hobbiton behind entirely."
Thorin stopped and turned to scowl at her. "What do you know about where I am going?" he demanded.
"I know enough," she said with a small smile. When the dwarf refused to move and just continued to stare at her from beneath his thick brows, Melliel shrugged. "Very well. Continue wandering aimlessly all night if that is what you prefer. I, however, am going to return to Bag End."
Thorin looked surprised at her mention of the meeting place, then frowned deeply. "What business do you have at Bag End?" he asked suspiciously. When she did not answer fast enough, he took a few steps closer, looking angrier and angrier by the second. "What business do you have there?" he repeated, this time with more force.
Melliel lifted a brow, sensing that he was obviously not a dwarf to be trifled with. "Perhaps that is something to be discussed with Gandalf," she suggested.
Thorin narrowed his eyes. "I asked you a question, elf, and I expect an answer. Tell me what I want to know. Now."
Melliel had thought Thorin would be displeased when he learned of her involvement, and she knew now that she had been right. She mentally berated herself for not fetching Gandalf before leaving Bag End, regretting the decision now. She would have preferred to have this conversation when the wizard was present, but it was obvious Thorin wasn't going to give up until she answered his questions, and she could sense that being anything but completely honest would be the wrong move. So, Melliel decided to just tell him the truth.
"I am a friend to Gandalf the Grey," she told him. "He summoned me here to recruit me into the company traveling to the Lonely Mountain."
Thorin could not have looked more shocked if Smaug had just suddenly flown into the Shire wearing a pretty, frilly dress. He stared at her with wide eyes, his jaw dropped, clearly struggling to process this turn of events. "This is a jest," he finally managed to say.
"I am afraid not, Thorin Oakenshield," Melliel answered with a shake of her head.
The fact that she knew exactly who he was seemed to shock him even further. He took another step closer, his expression still one of disbelief. "What do you know of the quest?" he demanded.
"That you intend to lead a company of twelve dwarves and one hobbit to Erebor, where you hope to vanquish Smaug the dragon and reclaim the Arkenstone, thus allowing you to take your place as King under the Mountain," she told him bluntly.
She tensed a little as Thorin cursed violently in Khuzdul, his shocked expression quickly turning to one of rage as he realized she knew everything. "Where is Gandalf?" Thorin growled. "Where is that meddling wizard?"
"In Bag End, with the rest of the company," she answered.
"Take me there," he commanded. "Now."
Melliel lifted her eyebrows at his harsh tone. She was half tempted to demand that he say please, but she took one look at the inferno raging through his eyes and decided it would probably be wise of her to just keep her mouth shut. Melliel nodded once, then turned on her heel to lead the way. There was no need to look back and see if he was following her – his muttered curses and stomping feet let her know he was right on her tail.
It was a quick and extremely tense walk to Bag End. Not a word was spoken between them as Thorin followed her, but she could feel him glaring daggers at the back of her head the entire way and could only assume he was saying all sorts of unpleasant things in the privacy of his own mind. As they approached the gate to Bilbo Baggins' house, Melliel could hear the dwarves singing merrily and laughing with one another inside. She cringed, knowing that the happy mood in Bag End was going to be destroyed the moment she and the fuming dwarf behind her walked inside.
Melliel opened the gate and stepped aside, motioning for him to go in before her. He glared at her as he walked past, then stomped up the steps to the green door of Bag End, where the dwarven rune etched into the wood still glowed in the moonlight. Melliel followed him, making sure not to stand too close, crossing her arms over her chest as he pounded angrily on the door. A hush immediately fell over the crowd inside, before they heard several sets of feet making their way closer.
When the door opened, they were greeted by a slightly confused Gandalf. Several dwarves stood behind him, but Melliel only spared them a brief glance.
"Thorin? But where is – oh." Gandalf had spotted Melliel standing a little ways away from the dwarf, and as the wizard's blue eyes glanced from Melliel's knowing expression to Thorin's infuriated one, he pressed his lips together, his expression going neutral. "It would seem you and Melliel have already discussed certain matters, then," he deduced easily enough.
Thorin glowered at Gandalf in return. "Indeed, I have spoken to your elf friend," he said through clenched teeth. "And you have a lot of explaining to do, Gandalf the Grey."
Gandalf pressed his lips together, then nodded once and motioned Thorin inside. Without another look toward Melliel, the dwarf stepped into the house, shed his cloak, and then went storming off down the hall without acknowledging anyone else. Gandalf, after giving Melliel a significant look, followed him.
Melliel finally stepped into Bilbo's house, and as soon as she did, twelve pairs of eyes turned in her direction. Most of the dwarves seemed confused and began muttering to one another in Khuzdul. A few others were already glaring. As for Kíli and Fíli, they looked downright shocked to see her standing in Bag End with them.
Before anyone could do or say anything, Bilbo suddenly pushed through the crowd, looking eager to get to her. "Lady Melliel! You have returned!" he said, not looking so upset anymore.
Melliel offered a small smile. "Indeed I have, Master Baggins." She glanced around at the dwarves, all of whom were still staring at her, before looking to Bilbo again. "And I think I shall take that tea now, if the offer is still good."
Uncomfortable didn't even begin to describe the atmosphere in Bag End.
While Gandalf and Thorin argued in a different part of the house, Melliel retreated to the kitchen with Bilbo to get away from the stares of the other dwarves. She leaned against the counter as Bilbo put the kettle on and scurried around to try to scrounge up some sort of dinner for her. It was a nearly impossible endeavor, since it looked as though the dwarves had completely cleaned out any and all food Bilbo might have had lying around.
"That Thorin Oakenshield seems very angry," Bilbo commented as he moved around the kitchen. "Is there bad history between the two of you?"
Melliel shook her head. "Not between us personally. I have never met him before tonight."
Bilbo frowned with confusion. "What is the problem then?"
Melliel looked down at the hobbit. "Elves and dwarves do not generally see eye to eye," she told him.
Bilbo made a thoughtful sound at that. "Well, I suppose they wouldn't, would they? Bit of a height difference there," he said with a small, joking smile.
Melliel appreciated his attempt to relieve some of the tension in the air. "Right you are, Master Baggins," she agreed with a smirk.
Their conversation lulled as the kettle started to whistle. While Bilbo located a tea cup and some tea, Melliel used her keen hearing to tune into the argument currently taking place.
"It is bad enough that you invited an elf into my company without consulting with me about it first," Thorin ranted. "But a female, Gandalf? This quest is no place for a woman to be, elf or no."
"Thorin, trust me when I say that Melliel is not some defenseless damsel," Gandalf replied, his voice perfectly calm. "She has been swinging a sword since before you were born, and she has been trained by some of the finest warriors Middle Earth has ever seen. I have witnessed her expertise with my own eyes. Her skills with a blade and a bow are nothing to scoff at," he defended.
"Regardless," Thorin continued tersely, "the she-elf has no place on this quest."
"I beg to differ," Gandalf countered. "Melliel knows Middle Earth like the back of her hand. You will not find a better guide than her, that I can assure you," he explained. "She also has many friends and contacts all throughout the land that I think will prove very useful along the way."
"Friends? Contacts? What you mean to say is more elves," Thorin said irritably.
"Some of them will be elves, yes," Gandalf replied, sounding now as though he was trying very hard to hang on to his patience. "And should you encounter those elves, which I can almost assure that you will, Melliel will be an invaluable ally to have on your side. You will need her, Thorin."
"I care not what value you think she will bring, Gandalf," Thorin rebutted stubbornly. "She will have no part in this."
Gandalf heaved. "In case you have forgotten, you asked me to find you the final members of this company. That is exactly what I have done."
"I asked you to find me a burglar, not burden this quest by forcing an elf into our presence," Thorin snapped. "Elves cannot be trusted, Gandalf. They are selfish, dishonest creatures with absolutely no sense of loyalty or honor," he growled.
Melliel frowned at his assessment of her character, unable to help feeling offended. Gandalf, it seemed, was offended, too. "You are wrong, Thorin Oakenshield," he said, his voice rising in volume. "Melliel is none of the things you have just said, and I will not stand idly by and allow you to insult her when you do not even know her. I trust her with my life, and I trust her to help us see this quest through to the end!"
Thorin's answer was to scoff loudly in disgust.
She stopped eavesdropping when Bilbo appeared before her, holding a cup of tea and offering a big smile. "For you, my lady."
Melliel smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
The tea cup was a touch too small for her hands, but she sipped her tea happily regardless, enjoying the warmth and the pleasant taste. Bilbo finally managed to locate some biscuits that hadn't been inhaled by the dwarves and gave them to her, which she accepted with a nod. As she bit into one, she snuck a glance at the dwarves in the other room, who were still talking amongst themselves.
"I am glad you are here, even if the others are not," Bilbo said. "Though these are not exactly the circumstances under which I had hoped we might meet again," he added, frowning unhappily at the crowd of dwarves loitering not so far away.
"Yes, I imagine you have had quite an interesting evening," Melliel said.
"That is one way of putting it," Bilbo scoffed. "That lot wreaked absolute havoc on my pantry," he muttered miserably.
"I saw. And I am sorry for the unexpected invasion," she apologized, since she was fairly sure nobody else had done so. "It is a very lovely home you have, Master Baggins," she complimented, hoping it would raise his spirits.
Bilbo forgot his annoyance and beamed for a moment, but then quickly frowned when he glanced around and saw the state his house was currently in. "It is usually more kept than this," he excused. "But, you know…dwarves," he said, shrugging helplessly.
"Yes, I know," Melliel sympathized with a small smirk. "Dwarves can be rather…rambunctious."
Bilbo snorted. "I do not think rambunctious quite covers it, my lady."
"Very well, then!" Gandalf suddenly shouted, and the wizard was so loud that even Bilbo was able to hear it this time. "If you do not need Melliel, then you do not need me, either. Since you know so much, Thorin Oakenshield, you may embark on this quest without either of us!"
Melliel looked at Bilbo, then hastily set her tea down and went back into the other room with Bilbo hot on her heels. The other dwarves were crowding the area, being nosy as they tried to eavesdrop on what was being discussed. They scattered as Gandalf suddenly came storming into view, looking beyond annoyed. He headed straight for the door, muttering under his breath the whole way. Melliel stepped into his path, frowning with concern.
"Mithrandir?" she asked uncertainly. "Where are you going?"
"Away from these stubborn creatures to clear my head!" he replied, brushing past her so that he could open the front door and step outside. "Talk sense into him if you can, for I no longer have the patience to try."
With that, he slammed the door shut behind him and disappeared from sight. Melliel looked to the dwarves, who had not understood the language they had spoken in and seemed both confused and alarmed. "Where is he going?" asked a dwarf whose hairstyle and beard design resemble the shape of a star. "What did he say?" he demanded next, looking to Melliel for answers.
Melliel sighed, staring at the door Gandalf had just exited through. The dwarves looked worried by Gandalf's threat to leave the company, but Melliel knew better. Gandalf could be testy and sometimes had a flair for the dramatic, but he was not one to go back on his word. He wouldn't really abandon the dwarves, not over one silly argument. He just needed time to get himself back in order, then he would be back.
Turning away from the door, Melliel's eyes connected with Thorin's. He now stood in the entryway to the hall Gandalf had just stormed out of, arms crossed over his chest and his expression set into a look of defiance. She thought she could detect a hint of uncertainty lurking in his eyes, however, as if he was worried he might have just made a mistake. Squaring her shoulders with determination, Melliel started toward him. He stood straighter as she approached – a few of his men even tensed and moved forward, as if they thought she was going to do harm to their leader.
"May I speak with you for a moment?" she asked, giving him a pointed look.
Any worry that had been in his eyes disappeared, replaced by distaste. "We have nothing to discuss, she-elf," Thorin retorted.
Melliel was not going to be deterred that easily. "If you want Gandalf to return to this company, you will push your pride aside and hear what I have to say," she said firmly.
They stared one another down for a moment, having a silent battle of wills, before he finally exhaled loudly through his nose and gave her a curt nod. Turning around, he went down the hallway behind him. With one last glance at the dwarves and the hobbit staring on with uncertainty, Melliel followed him.
They ended up in a little sitting room, where a cozy fire was burning. Thorin turned around to stare at her unblinkingly, arms crossing over his chest again. She had been right about their height difference – now that she was standing in front of him, she was only three, no more than four inches taller. Still, even though the height difference wasn't much, he seemed annoyed that he had to look up at her at all. Then again, she was certain everything about her annoyed him – her height, her lineage, even just the fact that she dared to breathe the same air as him. She was an elf, therefore she already knew she could do no right in his eyes.
"It is no secret that relations between elves and dwarves have been…unstable…for a very long time now," she started, which made him scoff. Melliel ignored the reaction. "You do not like me, and that comes as no surprise. I expected you would not. But I assure you, Thorin Oakenshield, that contrary to what you may be thinking, I have not come here to sabotage your quest," she told him firmly.
"Why have you come then?" he demanded to know.
"Because Gandalf is my friend, and he asked for my help. When my friends need help, I give it to them. It is as simple as that," Melliel explained with a small shrug.
"Funny. I did not think elves cared to help anyone outside their own kind," he retorted darkly. "Not even when people are suffering through the most desperate of times."
Melliel knew then that Thorin's distaste for elves went far past the usual grudges. The reason for his dislike was clearly very personal. "I would wager to guess that you have been wronged by my kind in the past," she said carefully. "I do not know what happened to offend you so, but I will take this time to remind you that I had no part in what happened between you and the elves that wronged you, therefore I will kindly ask you not to take your anger over the actions of others out on me."
Thorin stared at her for a long moment, eyeing her as if she was a creature he had never seen before. Finally, he heaved and turned his back on her, stepping closer to the fire. He stared at the flickering flames for a long moment, his shoulders tense. After a bit, he looked at her over his shoulder.
"Will Gandalf come back?" he asked, his tone a little less harsh now.
"He will," Melliel confirmed, which made Thorin's shoulders relax some. "But if you think you have won your argument with him, you are wrong," she warned. "He will continue to push for my acceptance into the company."
Thorin frowned, then turned to face her again. "And what exactly did he ask of you when he told you of the quest?" he asked.
"Only that I help guide you and your company to the Lonely Mountain," she answered.
"And what were you promised in return for your efforts?" he demanded. "Gold? Jewels?"
Melliel smiled humorlessly. "I have no interest in your riches, Thorin Oakenshield," she stated bluntly. "I have no interest in Erebor, either," she added truthfully, which made him frown deeper. "The only promise I was made was that I would not be required to enter Erebor, nor fight the dragon Smaug."
"As if I would allow you to come anywhere near Erebor," Thorin retorted. "I would sooner welcome another dragon before I would allow another elf to step foot into my kingdom."
Melliel shook her head at his stubbornness. "Then, for your sake, be happy I have no desire to enter the mountain. Ridding yourself of one dragon will be challenging enough. I imagine vanquishing a second would be impossible," she said with a sardonic smile.
Thorin just gave her an unamused look in return.
A brief silence passed between them, until Melliel gave a quiet sigh. "We do not have to like each other, Thorin Oakenshield. You do not have to speak to me or be near me or even acknowledge my presence within the company, if that would make you feel better about this arrangement. But know that I am willing to help your company get to Erebor as quickly and safely as possible," she told him with a nod. "If you allow me to do the task Gandalf has asked of me, you might even find yourself pleasantly surprised with what I have to offer."
"I doubt that," he muttered. Thorin then narrowed his eyes at her with scrutiny. He was quiet for a few long moments, but finally spoke. "You want no payment in return for your efforts?"
"None," Melliel confirmed.
Thorin's eyes narrowed even more. "And you expect me to believe that you, an elf, are willing to help us, a group of dwarves, simply out of the kindness of your own heart?" he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.
"Yes," Melliel stated simply, which made him lift an unconvinced brow. "I have already told you – Gandalf asked for my help, so I am giving it," she repeated. "Perhaps this may come as a shock to you, but there are elves in this worldwho know what loyalty is," she stated pointedly. "And not all elves are prejudice against you and your kin," she added with a look.
Thorin scoffed. "Of that I have seen no proof, and I will not believe it is so until I witness it with my own eyes," he said stubbornly.
Melliel said nothing to that, just pressed her lips together tightly to refrain from making a smart remark.
Another silence passed between them as Melliel gave Thorin time to think it over, watching as he rubbed a hand over his jaw, his eyes narrowed as he considered the situation. "A hobbit for a burglar, and a she-elf for a guide," he muttered with a shake of his head. "For all of Gandalf's wisdom, he is equally as mad."
Melliel did crack a genuine smile at that. "He most certainly is," she agreed in a fond tone.
Thorin didn't even look at her as he shook his head again. "Perhaps I am just as mad for considering agreeing to it," he grumbled out with a frown.
Melliel perked at that, feeling hopeful that she had gotten through to Thorin.
Thorin went quiet again, his blue eyes studying her intently now. Melliel simply stood there and waited to hear what he had to say. Several moments passed without either of them saying a word, before he finally heaved and shook his head, his expression one of annoyance but his eyes filling with resignation.
"Know this first and foremost – I am not pleased with this situation in any way," he stated bluntly. "I would love nothing more than to send you on your way and never lay eyes upon you again." He paused to frown at her. "But you know far too much about this quest to just allow you to roam freely," he heaved. "And though I do not trust you, I do trust Gandalf. If he truly believes you will be beneficial to this mission…then so be it," he said with a great deal of reluctance. "But you will receive no payment from me, nor will you step even one toe into Erebor. And if you should die along the way, the blame of that will fall onto your shoulders alone. I will not be responsible for whatever fate you meet."
Melliel nodded slowly. "Understood."
Thorin hesitated, then gave a curt nod. "Very well then, elf. I reluctantly accept you as our guide," he said, though it sounded as if it pained him to get the words out. "But if at any time I begin to suspect you are being deceitful or attempting to harm our quest in any way, your alliance with us will be finished and you will be banished," he made sure to add.
"Fair enough," she agreed. "I am glad we settled this matter, and I know Mithrandir will be, as well."
"He had better be," Thorin grumbled irritably.
Melliel smiled a little and turned to leave. "I will fetch him now and bring him back," she announced.
She had just started back down the hallway when Thorin's voice stopped her. "This quest is of the utmost importance to me and my people. Its success relies heavily on the strength and trustworthiness of those involved," he said slowly. When she looked at him over her shoulder, he was staring at her with lowered brows. "Do not make me regret bringing you along, elf," he said warningly.
Melliel glanced back at him, her honey colored eyes connecting with his hardened blue ones. "I shall try my hardest not to," she told him.
Gandalf hadn't gone far. She found him a few houses away, still pacing and muttering angrily to himself. When Melliel told him that she had talked Thorin into accepting her into the company, his anger disappeared almost instantly and he was very pleased indeed.
The dwarves, however, were anything but pleased. Upon returning to Bag End with Gandalf in tow, they walked in on a rather loud argument taking place between the dwarves. She could not understand what was being said since they were all speaking in Khuzdul, but judging by the looks on many of the bearded faces, it couldn't have been anything good.
"What are they saying?" she muttered to Gandalf, whom she knew understood the dwarven language.
"Many are not very happy that a female elf will be travelling with them and think you should be turned away," he muttered back. "But there are a few who seem to believe you should at least be given a chance to prove yourself," he added with a small smile.
Melliel raised her brows in surprise, since she had not expected anyone to speak up in her favor. She glanced around, noticing then that there were indeed a few calmer looking ones amongst the group. Judging by their expressions and gestures, Kíli and Fíli seemed to be vouching for her, and so was the dwarf with the floppy hat that she had spotted earlier.
"That is a surprise," she said, smirking at Gandalf.
"There is hope yet," he replied, his blue eyes twinkling at her.
Eventually Thorin said something that sounded very authoritative, which made everyone settle down. He spoke for a few moments, gesturing to her every so often. According to Gandalf's translations, he told the dwarves that they had no choice but to bring her along, seeing as Gandalf would likely leave the mission if Melliel didn't come with them and that she simply knew too much to let her go – why Thorin seemed to believe she was going to go running around shouting about their quest to every being she encountered was beyond her, but she decided it was him just being overly paranoid. Finally, Thorin told the dwarves the agreements that he and Melliel had come to in regards to the quest, then announced that his decision to bring her was final and not to be questioned.
The dwarves stopped arguing after that, though it certainly didn't stop a few of them from shooting her disgruntled looks.
"Perhaps this would be the time for proper introductions," Gandalf spoke up to ease the tension. "My friends, it is my extreme honor to formally introduce you to one of my very dearest friends, Lady Melliel," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Melliel, allow me to introduce you to Glóin and Óin," he started, motioning to a red-haired dwarf and an older one that had to listen through an ear trumpet. "Next we have Dori, Nori, and Ori," Gandalf continued, referencing a short, grey haired dwarf, the one whose hair and beard made him look like a star, and a young one who couldn't seem to meet her eye. "Those three fine dwarves are Bofur, Bombur, and Bifur," he continued, now pointing to the one with the floppy hat – he actually waved at her – a really fat dwarf, and one who, to her shock, had an axe in his head. "Those two are Kíli and Fíli," Gandalf said next.
"We already met," Kíli interrupted, shooting Melliel a smirk. When he received several looks, he frowned defensively. "We told you we met an elf just before we came here. You were the ones who thought we were joking around," he said pointedly. His words were met with several eye rolls.
"Continuing on," Gandalf resumed, ignoring the outburst. "Those two are Dwalin and Balin," he said, pointing to the bald, muscular one and a short, old looking dwarf whose long beard came to two, upturned points. Dwalin, she couldn't help but notice, was glaring at her the fiercest out of everyone. "And, of course, you are already acquainted with Thorin," he concluded.
Melliel held Thorin's gaze for a few moments, then finally pulled her eyes from his. "A pleasure to meet all of you," she said kindly.
Dwalin and a few others snorted impolitely, Balin pressed his lips together and hummed, and the young one named Ori immediately blushed and looked elsewhere when her gaze briefly met his. Bofur, however, inclined his head.
"The pleasure is ours, Lady Melliel," he said, which earned him glares from several other dwarves. "What?" he asked defensively, holding his hands up. "I'm just bein' courteous."
The dwarves muttered and grumbled, until Thorin stepped forward and gave them a firm look. "Now that we all know each other, let us move on. We have important matters to discuss before we depart," he said, clearly wanting to move on with things.
At that command, the rest of the dwarves began to file into the dining room to reclaim seats at the table. Gandalf followed them, as did Bilbo. When Melliel moved to do the same, however, Thorin stepped into her path and stopped her with a firm look.
"Not you," he said, which made Melliel's brows raise. Both Gandalf and Bilbo paused to look back, both frowning with confusion. "Let me be clear about this, elf. You are our guide – you are not a member of this company," Thorin told her bluntly. "You know more than I would prefer you to already. What we are about to discuss is none of your concern."
"Thorin – " Gandalf started to say.
Melliel held up a hand to quiet her friend. "It is alright, Gandalf," she said, pulling her gaze from Thorin's long enough to look at the old wizard, who was frowning deeply with disapproval. "If I am not wanted at the meeting, then I will not attend," she agreed, even though she knew her elvish hearing would allow her to hear everything that was said anyway. She didn't see the point in telling Thorin that, though. "I will be outside for now."
Gandalf gave in and nodded, though he still seemed displeased. Melliel gave Thorin one last look, then turned and headed for the door, stepping yet again into Bilbo's garden.
Though technically banned from the meeting, she still shamelessly listened in on the conversation taking place in Bag End. The dwarves shared news and information with each other first, then soon moved on to talk of the quest, discussing meetings between the clans, Smaug the dragon, secret maps and a key that had allegedly belonged to Thorin's father. For the most part the company talked in normal, calm tones, but sometimes they became riled up and shouted over one another. Anytime they got out of hand, however, Thorin was quick to rein them in again, his deep, gravelly voice always easiest for her to pick out amongst the dwarves. It was actually impressive the way he was able to easily subdue the rowdy bunch.
Eventually, when Bilbo began to read over the contract and finally heard what sort of danger he'd be getting into as the company burglar, she heard a loud thump that made her frown and look to the window. Judging by the reactions she heard, the poor hobbit had fainted. Melliel shook her head with sympathy.
The meeting came to end after that, and it wasn't long before someone came to fetch her. The door opened and she was met with the young, smiling face of Kíli.
"Gandalf requests your presence, my lady," he said with a grand sweep of his arm.
Melliel smiled a bit and stepped back inside, watching as Kíli shut the door again. The dwarf turned a curious look at her, his head tilting a little. "Why did you not tell us you would be on our quest?" he asked without beating around the bush.
Melliel smirked. "It would have ruined the surprise," she quipped back.
Kíli snorted. "Quite a surprise, indeed," he conceded.
He started to say something else, but the call of his name caught his attention. When he saw that his brother Fíli was motioning him over, Kíli excused himself and went to join him. Melliel watched him go, then continued on into another sitting room, where she discovered an unconscious Bilbo being hauled into an arm chair by Bofur and Dwalin.
"What caused him to faint?" Melliel asked, not addressing anyone in particular.
Dwalin didn't answer, choosing instead to scowl and walk away. Bofur, however, shrugged at her. "He was readin' through the contract an' got a little…overwhelmed," he explained. "Took a little tumble in the end."
"I see," Melliel said.
She glanced around and saw that most of the dwarves had dispersed to various spots around Bag End now that the meeting was over. Thorin and Balin, she noticed, were still sitting at the table where they had held their meeting, their heads bent close together as they looked over a long piece of parchment, which Balin leaned down to scribble on every so often. Melliel tore her gaze from them to look at Bofur, who was gazing at her with interest.
"So…an elf, eh?" Bofur asked conversationally, as if they were merely discussing the weather.
"Afraid so," Melliel answered.
Bofur nodded slowly, then shrugged a shoulder. "Could be worse, I s'pose."
And with that he walked away, leaving Melliel to watch him go with a small smile on her lips. She finally returned her attention to Bilbo when he groaned and began to come to. The hobbit blinked blearily for a second or two, looking disoriented, before he turned his gaze up to hers.
"I fainted," he stated.
"You did," Melliel confirmed with a nod.
Bilbo raised his hands to his head, his fingers rubbing his temples. "Did you know about the dragon?" he asked. After Melliel nodded in confirmation, he raised his eyebrows at her. "And you still agreed to go with them?" he asked, his tone clearly stating he thought she had lost her mind.
"My part in this quest is merely to ensure that the company makes it to Erebor," she said. "The dragon is for you and the dwarves to deal with."
"Comforting," Bilbo said in a deadpan tone.
The hobbit groaned again and shut his eyes, looking paler at the thought of fighting a dragon. Melliel placed a gentle hand on his little shoulder, her brows raising with sympathy. "Is there anything I can get you to make you feel better?" she offered.
"Tea would do nicely," Bilbo said with a nod.
Melliel smiled and patted his shoulder, before heading toward the kitchen, only sparing Thorin and Balin a brief glance as she walked past them. Once in the kitchen, she found Gandalf there, as well as a few dwarves who were smoking their pipes and talking quietly amongst themselves. The dwarves – Bombur, Nori, and Óin, if she remembered their names correctly – quickly left when she entered, but Gandalf smiled at her in greeting.
"Welcome back," he greeted.
"Thank you," she said as she located the tea kettle, filled it with water, and set it on the stove to get the water boiling. "Is there any food left?" she asked, glancing around for any remnants of the dwarves' dinner. She hadn't really gotten the chance to eat the biscuits Bilbo had given her earlier, and they appeared to be gone now. Likely they had been eaten by a dwarf looking for another round of dinner.
Gandalf nodded and reached for a bowl that he had hidden away on the top shelf of a cabinet, much too high for any of the dwarves to reach. "I saved this for you," he said, handing her a bowl of soup. "I had to keep it out of sight so that it wouldn't fall victim to one of the dwarves," he said with a smirk.
"Many thanks," Melliel said gratefully.
The soup had gone cold, but a simple spell from Gandalf had steam rising from it again. She leaned against the counter and consumed a few spoonfuls, sighing contentedly as the sustenance warmed her belly.
"The meeting sounded successful," she commented, sipping down another spoonful. "Though you never did tell them how many dragons you have slain," she pointed out with a smirk, referring to the rather humorous portion of the meeting she had listened in on.
Gandalf huffed. "Eavesdropping were you?" Melliel just shrugged innocently. "I never told them I was a dragon slayer," he went on to defend himself. "The dwarves came to that conclusion on their own."
Melliel quirked a brow. "And yet you did not correct them," she said.
Gandalf merely grumbled under his breath, which made her laugh quietly to herself.
The feeling of being watched hit her in the next moment, making her eyes turn to the dining room. Thorin was watching her over his shoulder, his lips turned downward into a frown. He looked away when their eyes met to return his attention to Balin, speaking quietly to the older dwarf. Gandalf, noticing her distraction, looked over his shoulder to see what she was peering at, before turning to her with a sigh.
"I am sorry for the way you have been received by the company, Melliel," Gandalf apologized with sympathetic eyes.
Melliel shrugged a shoulder. "There is no need for an apology. It was the exact reception I anticipated," she told him with a small smile. When Gandalf did not return her smile, she reached out to pat his arm. "It is fine, Mithrandir, honestly," she insisted. "I can handle it."
Gandalf finally nodded, heaving quietly through his nose.
The tea kettle began to whistle, drawing Melliel's attention back to the stove. She turned to take the kettle off, then searched the cabinets until she found a mug and the container of tea Bilbo had grabbed when he'd made her a cup earlier. Just as she finished fixing the tea for Bilbo, the sound of chairs scraping over the wooden floor of the dining room made her glance back. Thorin and Balin had stood up and were now coming into the kitchen, their gazes set on her.
"Lady Melliel, if we could have a moment of your time," Balin said. His tone was polite enough, but his expression was pinched with a hint of disapproval that he seemed to be having a difficult time concealing.
Melliel looked from Balin to Thorin, then back to Balin. "Certainly." She then handed the mug of tea to Gandalf. "Will you take this to Master Baggins for me?"
Gandalf nodded and accepted the tea, before brushing past the dwarves and exiting the kitchen.
Alone with the two dwarves now, Melliel clasped her hands together in front of her. "What can I help you with?" she asked.
"There is just one short order of business to see to," Balin told her. Thorin, it seemed, was content to let his comrade do all the talking. "We have drawn up a contract especially for you," Balin said, stepping forward and extending a piece of parchment to her. "Please read it over carefully. Then, if everything seems in order, we will need your signature to seal the arrangement."
Melliel took the parchment from him and began to read over Balin's neat handwriting. It was a fairly straight forward contract that just reiterated everything that she and Thorin had agreed to – she would receive none of the treasure within Erebor, she would not be required to enter the mountain or fight the dragon, and Thorin was free to cut ties with her if and when he saw fit. There was one small bit at the bottom that said they would not be responsible for the transportation of her body should she perish along the journey, nor would they be obligated to contribute to the cost of any funeral arrangements, but there was a small note beneath it saying that Gandalf had agreed to be the one to see to it that she would be returned to Lothlórien should she fall. It was a bit morbid, but she supposed she couldn't blame the dwarves for wanting to make sure that everything was covered.
"Well?" Balin asked when she finished reading.
Melliel nodded. "I can agree with this contract," she told them. "Though I am surprised I am required to sign one at all," she added, giving Thorin a brief look.
Thorin jutted his chin into the air. "This is to ensure that you do not attempt to go back on what we agreed on," he said unremorsefully. "You would not be the first elf to double cross me. I will take no chances "
If his words earlier hadn't been proof enough already, she would have certainly known it then – Thorin didn't trust her any further than he could throw her. Melliel knew she had no plans to double cross anyone, but she could tell that trying to convince Thorin of that would be useless. So she merely looked at him for second before shifting her eyes back to Balin, who had been looking back and forth between the two of them with slightly raised brows.
"May I borrow your quill and ink?" she asked.
Balin nodded quickly. "Of course."
Once she had been given the writing utensils, she turned to the nearest flat surface so that she could sign her name on the bottom of the contract. When she had finished, Balin stepped forward to sign his name next to hers and date it, before taking the contract and writing utensils away.
"That settles it, then," he said. "I thank you for your time."
Balin stepped out after that, leaving Melliel alone with Thorin. The tall dwarf stared her down for a few silent moments, the look in his eyes impossible to decipher. Finally, he uncrossed his arms and took a step back.
"We will depart in the morning," Thorin said. "Do not oversleep, or we will leave you behind."
And with those words, Thorin turned and left the kitchen without sparing her another glance.
After that, Melliel only stayed in the kitchen long enough to finish her soup and clean her bowl, before deciding that she might as well turn in and get a good night of rest while she still had the chance, seeing as she likely wouldn't have a cozy place to sleep for quite some time once they hit the road. She bid goodnight to Gandalf and Bilbo, but decided against bothering the dwarves as they settled into the sitting room to smoke their pipes and talk quietly amongst themselves.
The bed in the guest room was small, but she claimed it any way. She settled onto the comfortable mattress, hoping Bilbo wouldn't mind, but sleep didn't come to her straight away. Instead, she stared up at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened that night and hoping she hadn't made a mistake by agreeing to join the dwarves. In the end, she decided that what was done was done. She was going on the quest, and there was no backing out of it now.
Eventually the dwarves began to sing in the other room, filling the little home with their slow, somber song. Melliel listened to them, able to pick out a deep, rich voice above all the others that she found to be oddly soothing. Before she knew it her eyes began to drift shut, and with the sound of that baritone voice in her ears, sleep finally claimed her.
I hope you enjoyed it! See you at the next chapter!