Hey guys! First chapter of Of Dragons and Dwarves. I have had this story in mind for quite some time now and I really hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 1
Having left the safety and comfort of the Shire behind, the company of Thorin Oakehnshield were now on their way to truly begin their quest.
Thorin did not know whether to feel relieved or annoyed that their Burglar had arrived, running after them with the contract flapping behind him. He did not feel optimistic about the wizards choice of the fourteenth member, being a hobbit, he was extremely soft, never having pocked up a weapon in his life. Dwalin was right, the wild is not for folk who can't take care of themselves. However, he would have to trust that Gandalf knows what he is doing.
His thoughts then turn to their mysterious fifteenth member that Gandalf had promised them. He had mentioned this person would meet them in Bree, having had a previous engagement. He mentioned this one actually had some skills at fighting, but given his previous choice, he wasn't sure if he could believe his word on this, but, he would wait before giving judgment on this matter.
It takes the group a little under a week to reach the village of men. Having been given entrance by the gatekeeper, the company ride along the streets, ignoring the many stares from the people as they went. Reaching the stables, they made sure their mounts were secured and would be comfortable for the night.
After getting his pony settled, Thorin watches as Gandalf stands by a stall and pets the snout of a horse he did not recognise. It looks to be an appaloosa breed, pure black apart from its rump which was white as snow with black spots. The steed looked as though it knew Gandalf as it appeared calm, as if welcoming an old friend.
"You know this horse, Gandalf?" he asks curiously.
Gandalf turns to him. "Indeed. This is Sidhiel. (Pronounced Sith-ee-ell) She belongs to my friend and our final member."
Thorin raises a brow, not liking how the horses name sounded. "You brought an elf to join us?"
"Oh no, my friend is not an elf. You will see when we find her."
The dwarrows brow rises even more as he watches the wizard leave. He hired a woman to join them? How could this get any worse? He notices Balin and Dwalin standing nearby, both having heard Gandalf's words.
"A woman? Is he serious?" Dwalin grunts out as Thorin joins the brothers.
"He must be. I don't see him being the joking type, especially over something like this." Thorin replies.
Dwalin shakes his head. "I have said it once and I'll say it again, the wild is not for gentlefolk who do not know how to fight."
"There must be a reaons he thinks she will be acceptable." Balin, ever the optimistic, begins.
Although, Thorin knows that deep down, the feeling of keeping women protected is still there, something that is ingrained into every dwarrow.
"I have heard of some women that are able to fight. Maybe he knows she will be able to handle herself."
Thorin sighs. "Maybe. Gandalf did tell me she can fight. However, I will reserve judgement until we have the chance to meet this woman. For now, let us get inside."
Thorin then gives the order for the others to follow when they are ready before making his way to the inn before walking in.
As soon as they stepped inside, Thorin could feel the atmosphere drop, the stares of the patrons immediately on them. Thorin walked in with his head held high, not bothering with the thoughts of others as he walks over to the right back corner of the inn where the dwarves begin to gather some tables together so they can all sit together.
"I knew this place isn't anything to look at, but I thought they would have some decency to not let such rabble in here to take over."
This causes all the dwarves to tense. Turning to the voice, Thorin sees a middle aged man glaring at them, greasy hair falling in his eyes.
"Got something to say, whelp?" Dwalin growls.
"Oh, nothihng." The man begins as he stands, towering over them. "Except that your kind aren't wanted, or welcome, here. So you might as well leave."
"Is there a rule, or a sign, to say dwarves are not welcome here?" Thorin says as he stands tall.
The man then sneers down at him. "Take my advice, dwarf, get lost. Your kind are nothing but trouble."
Just before he, or anyone else can utter a word, there is a loud laugh coming from the opposite corner. Looking towards it, he sees a woman sitting at a table, almost lazily. She's sat back with her left elbow resing on the back of the chair, her right hand cuppung a mug. From what he sees above the table, she is wearing a dark green tunic with a black cloak. Her firery red hair tied behind her. A smile on her lips and her ice blue eyes sparkling in merriment. As he looks into those eyes, he cannot seem to pull himself away. He has never seen eyes so blue before.
"Something funny, girly?"
The woman shakes her head as she stands and makes her way to them, standing between the man and the dwarves.
"Just the ramblings of a good for nothing drunk. You talk about dwarves causing trouble, but the only one I see causing trouble is you. Now, either sit yourself down and finish your drink quietly, or I will be forced to escort you out myself. And trust me, you won't want that."
It's now his turn to laugh. "You think you can take me on? You're nothing but a little pipsqueak."
"Just sit down, little boy, I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Giving a patronising pat on the mans shoulder, she moves past him to go back to her table, his friends laughing at his table. Thorin watches her walk away, surprised that a daughter of man would stand up for the dwarves in such a way.
"Why you wench!" The man growls.
"Look out!" Thorin hears Kili call out.
Turning back to the man, Thorin's hand immediately goes his sword and begins to draw it as the man whirls around, his right fist pulled back, ready to strike. Before he can step in however, the woman twirls on the spot and blocks the man's fist with her right hand. Thorin gapes, the woman moved so quickly, he would have missed it if he had blinked. He hears the man yelp in psin.
"I warned you, boy." the woman growls.
Now, if he hadn;t seen this for himself, he would never had believed it if he had been told, but the woman turns her back to the man, still gripping his hand, and the man is suddenly flying through the air and over her shoulder where he lands with a thud on the ground. There is no movement or sound in the inn, excpet from the writing, groaning man on the ground.
The woman turns to the men at the table.
"Take him and get out."
Not needing to be told twice, the men immediately listen as they scramble to their feet to grab their friend and rush out. The woman looks around at the other patrons.
"Anyone else got a problem with dwarves?"
They immediately turn away and get back to what they were doing.
Thorin is still staring in shock at this unknown woman. Looking at her, he sees she is roughly the same height as he, maybe slightly shorter, unusual from the race of men. So, to have been able to flip someone twice her size, seriously impressed him.
Sheathing his sword, he steps forward and clears his throat, gaining the woman's attention as she turned to look to him.
"Thank you for your assistance, milady. It was not necessary, but appreciated nonetheless."
She smiles at him, giving a slight bow of the head. He opens his mouth to say more when Gandalf's voice speaks up.
"Causing trouble once again, Seraphina?"
The woman turns to the wizard with a smile. "Who me? Never. The drunk had it coming."
Gandalf chuckles as they embrace. Seraphina? That is a most unusual name, but it somehow suited her.
"Well, I for one am happy you were here to intervene.
They pull apart and Gandalf turns to him.
"Thorin, I would like to introduce you to our final compantion. Seraphina."
Thorin looks over the woman. So, this is the one he had asked to join us? He had serious doubts before about a woman joining them, but if the rest of her fighting skills were anything like they just witnessed, than he definitely saw great potential in her. Moreso than the hobbit the wizard had hired.
As he watches her eyes look over his company and then turn to him, he frowns as he notices her eyes turn a darker shade of blue and harden before turning to the wizard.
"Gandalf. I would like a word with you. Now."
Without giving him a chance to say anything, She turns and make her way up the stairs. Gandalf lets out a sigh before following. The other dwarves don't say anything for a few moments before they take their seats.
"So, that's the woman he talked about. She can certainly handle herself." Dwalin says, a small grin on his face.
Balin nods. "Aye, it seems that way."
"Did you see the way she flipped him like he was nothing!" Kili exclaims, a large grin on his face.
Bofur's grin is just the same. "Aye, certainly not shy to get stuck in, that one."
The others agree and they continue to talk about their new possible fifteenth member, those who weren't present being told ofwhat happened.
Thorin, however, keeps his eyes on the stairs. The hard look Seraphina had worries him. He doubts that she's unhappy to be around them, she wouldn't have stood up for them if she had a problem with dwarves. Although, there has to be something to do with the dwarves to make her angry enough to practicaly snarl at the wizard.
Sitting up straight, Thorin sees the wizard come down and nod for him to come. He nods and tells Balin and Dwalin to join him, Balin gathering the contract and writing utensils before the begin to follow Gandalf up the stairs and to the woman's room.
And there we have it, the first chapter done and dusted. The next one will begin with Seraphina's point of view. I hope you all enjoyed it and would like to see more.