Chapter 2: Early Rainy Morning

As I tried to finish up with my shift I took short glances over to Mister Gandalf and the stranger, wondering what it was that they seemed to be discussing so seriously. I didn't have too much time to wonder though in between caring for the dozens of customers we had cycling in and out of the tavern late into the middle of the night and trying to not get groped by Master Ferdinand and his nasty cohorts. All the other women in the building knew to steer clear but there was only so much I could do though to avoid them.

Eventually though we crept towards closing time. Still, the large table got drunker and drunker while we were trying to encourage people to pay their tabs and get the hell out. And still sat Gandalf with the dwarf.

"I'm going to go take care of those two," I told Joseph with a large, tired stretch. He was stacking up the chairs onto the tables, trying to send a message to our boss and anyone else remaining. He yawned and nodded to me.

I moved around the mostly empty tables to the fireplace. Usually when we do final calls everyone piles out pretty quickly but there's usually a couple people who need to be woken up or need to be taken out of their drunken conversations.

"Good evening Gentlemen," I greeted, coming up behind my favorite wizard.

"Oh welcome back my dear," Gandalf said with a friendly smile. "Dinner was quite good by the way, really hit the spot."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Are you trying to butter me up for something? Because I'm pretty sure I just got you some bread and cheese."

"Everything always tastes better when someone else prepares it. Plus, Thorin here has mentioned how you helped him with those ruffians earlier and I am grateful you helped him although you had never met before."

I turned to the dwarf, "Thorinis it? Don't know why you were so stingy with sharing it with me, it's a perfectly fine name! Nothing to be embarrassed about, Love!"

"I can guarantee that's certainly not why I didn't share my name with you, Miss Lydia," he said evenly.

"Oh of course, you're some sort of important person," I said, pulling up a chair to the table. "Why else would you not tell me that and also have these random men after you when you're not a criminal. Some sort of bounty or assassination attempt?" They both stared at me. "What? You think this is the first time I've witnessed a bounty situation? So who are you where someone would want to put a price on your head, hm?"

Thorin turned his deep blue eyes to Gandalf. "How do you know her exactly?"

"That's actually a good diversion because it's a good story," he chuckled. "However I don't believe we have such time for that story tonight. I know they're trying to close up the tavern, Thorin do you have a place to stay?"

"He took one of the rooms upstairs, do you need one as well?" I asked.

"Why yes, that would be fantastic, my dear! I'll be gone awfully early tomorrow morning to go on a quick journey but I will be back in a couple days. And Thorin, I think it would be best if you stayed here and waited for the gathering."

'The Gathering' sounds so secretive.

He gave a nod and Gandalf handed me the money for the room. I shrugged my shoulders, "Alright, well let's get you boys settled in for the night before Ferdinand realizes he hasn't bothered me for more than two minutes. Let's head upstairs, shall we?"

On our way out of the tavern I grabbed a couple of room keys and gave Joseph a heads up that I was going to be done for the night. Usually we tried to make sure I wasn't the last one working so I wasn't left alone with the boss. This time I narrowly escaped because as soon as we left the main room I heard Ferdinand inquiring about my whereabouts.

The inn portion of the Prancing Pony was usually pretty quiet, not too many travelers have any need to go through Bree. Usually on stormy nights any traveling merchants stay with us but other than that there are very few customers. Despite how busy the tavern was, the inn was always very slow. I didn't mind though, if we were ever busy enough I would have to give up my own room to accompany for business.

"Mister Gandalf, this will be your room," I said, handing him his key. "Extra long bed in this one, my tall friend! Whenever you leave tomorrow morning feel free to leave the key behind the bar if no one is awake, otherwise I can take it from you."

"Thank you, Lydia. We will have to catch up once I return in a few days. I am dreadfully curious what you're doing in a place like this."

"It's a date, goodnight my friend." He said goodnight to us and then went inside his room for the evening. "Alright Thorin, now let's get you settled in. Believe I grabbed the key for a room a couple of doors down."

"Is the room secure?" he asked.

"There's only one other key that opens the door and I don't even know where it is. You'll see there is no way to get in through the window either. I think you'll be safe for however long you stay." I unlocked the door and swung it open to the small room. "If you need anything I stay in the room next door, though it's not a huge guarantee I'll wake up if you knock. I sleep like the dead, especially on rainy nights like this."

"Noted, thank you Miss Lydia."

"You really can call me Lydia. It's not like I'm referring to you as Mister or Master or Lord. Mainly because I don't know what your salutation or title is."

"Goodnight Miss Lydia."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Goodnight Thorin."

I wandered down to my room, absolutely exhausted from the hectic, busy, but interesting day. I was relieved it didn't get capped off with casual harassment from Ferdinand. The last thing I wanted to deal with was that sicko trying to guilt his way into my bed, not like I would ever let that happen if I had any say about it. He thinks that because he gave me a job and lets me live in one of his rooms he's a saint that needs to be praised from sunrise to sunset. I might bite my tongue and deal with his constant flirting and touching but allowing it to go further than that is where the line is drawn. Though I fear the day where he doesn't care about the line anymore. I'll likely be fired and kicked out at that point for not complying and potentially pummeling him to a pulp.

I went into my room and closed the door, locking it securely. It was so cold in my room with the sound of the rain as clear as if there was no wall there at all. It had been home for me for a few years at that point, the single bed and writing desk. I had a few things from my old life though, like my father's hunting bow and some clothing, but other than that it was no different than any other room in the Prancing Pony.

I threw the swords I had stolen on top of my trunk then grabbed my pipe from the side table and forced open the window out to the street. I leaned against the window frame and stuffed the pipe with tobacco. The cool air brushed against my face while I watched the downpour continue to fill the muddy streets. I rubbed my eyes tiredly and breathed in the cool air.

I hummed a traditional pub song while I lit my pipe. I held the pipe between my teeth as I untied my long, dark curls. My wild curls matched my dark eyes and deep skin tone, though you could still see the freckles that covered me from head to hairy toes.

The taste of the smoke when I inhaled reminded me of early morning hunts. Nothing reminded me of my Pa more than the smell of burning tobacco and his bow.

It made me miss the taste of pine and elderberries and the feeling of morning moss under my bare feet. We would always pack little tea biscuits that Mom would make any day before we left. I always hated the taste of them, it's like they came out tasting stale, but since they were all we had to eat I would choke them down. Pa said I would enjoy them more when I was older because they always tasted the best with a smoke. That was a fat lie. But I still loved going with him into the forest to hunt whenever we needed to scavenge for food or hunt it down.

I didn't think I was ever meant to be a city hobbit, but the cards fall wherever they wish. They don't take preferences into account for such things.

"Nothing stays the same for too long anyway," I said to myself, as if I needed to hear the reassurance but it didn't mean as much coming from myself.

I took another deep inhale off my pipe and blew beautiful smoke rings and swirls out into the rain where they quickly dissipated.


I yawned and stretched out my arms as I slowly made my way down the stairs to the main level of the inn again. I slept pretty hard the night before, once I was done with my smoke, although I don't think I ever really struggled in that department.

I was the first one downstairs, so I lit some candles and lamps so I could get some cleaning done before people started coming in to drink far too early in the morning. I lit them as I went but was shocked to find someone standing in the bar. Luckily I recognized the gray robes before I let out a shrill and very piercing scream.

"Damn it Gandalf," I breathed, putting my hand over my heart. "You scared the daylights out of me!"

He looked at me from over his shoulder, room key in hand while he leaned against the bar. "Oh good morning Miss Lydia, I was just finding where to put my key where you'd find it but I guess you found me first. I apologize if I startled you."

I took it from him and put it into its designated place. "It's alright, whatever tiredness there was still in me has left my body," I said. "So where is it that you're going off to? Can I get you anything for your journey?"

"I'm heading north and I need to organize a meeting between some prominent family figures. I don't need anything now but there is something I could really need upon my return in a couple days, if you don't mind."

"Alright? What can I do for you?"

"We could really use the tavern here as a meeting place. It would most likely be in the evening and we would need it to be private, but we would be willing to pay extra to buy it out for the evening, of course."

"Oh! Uh I guess I would have to ask my boss but he doesn't usually come in until later in the day."

"Let's just make it happen and have it all prepared by the time I get back. Doesn't need to be fancy, we just need the space for the evening and for you to be the only other person in the tavern two days from now. Can you handle that for me?"

"Sure Gandalf, I can definitely try."

"Thank you my dear, that will take quite a load off my shoulders," he nodded. "I hope Thorin keeps himself out of trouble as well."

"Is he prone to getting into trouble?" I asked, cleaning some cups that weren't grabbed the night before.

"Sometimes, but I think trouble is going to start following him no matter what."

"But I can trust him?"

He gave me a kind smile. "If you gain his trust, Thorin and those close to him would be great players to have on your side. Dwarves value loyalty and trust over most things."

I believe the emphasis on'ifI gain his trust' was key to that sentiment.

"Can I trust him while he occupies space here in the inn?"

"Oh most definitely," he nodded. "I realized that we once again didn't get to catch up. We must sit down and make time once I'm back."

"I agree, my friend." I tied the apron around my waist then held out my hand to him. "Good luck with meeting with those families and I hope your journey is a safe one."

He took my hand as well. "Stay safe in your world as well, Lydia, you have plenty of dangers here too."

"Don't I know it. But fear not, the benefit of looking the way I do is that it generally keeps me out of trouble."

He chuckled and passed a couple more coins across the table to me. "This is for Thorin's room the next couple of days, and also go towards reserving the tavern in a few nights. Thank you again for your help, my dear."

"Don't make me regret it," I teased, tucking the coins into my apron. "We will see you in a few days."

"Indeed you will."

He tilted the brim of my hat to me and then exited the Prancing Pony. I could hear the rain come down on him before he was gone. The tavern was so quiet after he left so I went back to cleaning cups and wiping down the bar.

I sang a song quietly to myself while I worked. I kind of enjoyed those quiet moments on my own, before Joseph and Master Ferdinand and any customers came into the tavern or inn. There were not a lot of quiet moments in my days so I tried to find them where I could. Those moments never did last for very long.

I continued to sing but looked over in the direction of the stairs when I heard them creak. Sure enough, Thorin wandered into the tavern wearing the same clothes he wore yesterday evening. He looked slightly more at ease than he did before.

"Good Morning, Thorin," I greeted, going into humming instead of singing.

"Morning."

"Can I grab you anything?"

"No. Has Gandalf already left?"

"Yes, he got back on the road not long ago. Sounds like he'll be back in a few days to organize some sort of get together or party? With the details he gave me it sounds pretty secretive. Do you know anything about it?"

He shrugged his shoulders, not willing to disclose I guess.

"He wants me to be there, by the way, so giving me some details you're able to share would be really helpful. I just want to know what I should be expecting."

He seemed to consider that slightly more. "Gandalf will be bringing back some dwarves I know, our families have been trusted friends and allies for generations. It has been a long time since we've all been together."

"A dwarven family gathering, no wonder he wants to host it at a tavern," I joked. When he didn't really react, I moved on. "You must be preparing to discuss something very important if you're gathering those kinds of people for the first time in such a long while."

Thorin drew silent again.

"It's not difficult to find your line, Thorin. I always manage to find it like a solid stone wall, don't I?" I chuckled. I did find out that he must have also been important in the dwarven communities if he would be part of a gathering like that. I kept my speculation to myself though. "How do you know Gandalf anyway?"

He sat down at one of the barstools and crossed his arms. "I've heard of him, maybe met him in passing before last night, but I don't know him personally. I know of those who trust him so I'm inclined to do the same."

"He is tricky and cryptic most of the time, but Master Gandalf is a good friend to have. Though I suppose it's good to stay on the good side of any magic bearer."

"How is it that you've run across Gandalf before?"

"He's pretty well known for his firework shows around here and not entirely in a good way. When I was still living north of Bree with my family, we lived in the woods. His occupation didn't mix well with the trees, as I'm sure you can imagine. A couple of strays went off and nearly burned down our house."

"Didn't you say you were friends?"

I set down the cups I was cleaning and went over to a window to crack it open for some fresh, rainy air. "Well he helped put it out before anything got too singed. My Pa was ready to shoot him down like a deer once the flames were out but Gandalf has a way of sliding out of situations like that. I think he offered to enchant Pa's hunting bows and that won him over. While he was in the area I showed him some edible plants and berries he could find in the forest, and he repaid me with stories from his travels." I yanked open the rusty windows and took a beautiful breath of the chilly morning air. "I guess the friendship has sort of just developed from the couple times we've run into each other since then. I think that if anyone exchanges stories and smoking tobacco they're bound to make a friend and good memories."

"Cannot argue with that."

"Then I would very much enjoy sharing a smoke with you, Thorin. I'm sure you have lots of interesting stories to tell too. In the correct setting and discussing the kind of stories you're able to share, of course."

"You are a persistent one, Miss Lydia."

"I have heard that before, believe it or not." I laid my dark brown eyes on him and my gaze didn't shift or falter. "What can I say? I am a bit of a story collector, so I don't care much for what your true title is. I'm much more interested in the tales you can tell me from lands I haven't even heard of before. The Barclays have been outside of Hobbiton or Bree for generations."

"Maybe you'll want to find yourself a more willing traveler if you want such stories. I have nothing to share."

"You are a tough one, though I'm sure you already knew that." I looked out the front window to the rain that was still pouring down outside. After a long night of drinking and with it being inevitably a quiet morning I was hoping Ferdinand would just stay home. "My pa used to say that the best conversations were always had on stormy days, and since neither of us are going anywhere we might as well test that theory hm?"