Hey guys! I'm back! Oh man, it feels so good to be writing again! I just have to say that I am so grateful for all who have stuck by me during these hard times. Mental health really sucks. I'm not a hundred percent better, but I'm good enough where I can finally get back into writing and immersing myself back into the world of Middle Earth.
For True Love Conquers All, you will notice that there are going to be quite a few changes. I have been thinking long and hard about this story and believe that these changes are needed.
The chapters before Thorin and Caladwen's reunion will be gone. After rereading it, I realise that they weren't really needed, and they felt too rushed. Some moments from those chapters will reappear in the story, but more as flashbacks/memories, so we'll get little snippets of them.
With hat being said, I really hope you will enjoy this story more than before. Thank you again for staying with me for so long, I appreciate you all so much xx
P.S. Oh! Before I forget, you all should know that this story, and any other Hobbit stories will be primarily based off the movies, although I will try to add in aspects of the books as much as I can. I haven't read the books, so can't do everything from it. But some parts will be from those, I promise.
Chapter 1
Throin grumbles to himself as he walks down the path, trying to find the home of their burglar. Gandalf said it would be easy to find this place, but he has since gotten lost twice. Either Gandalf has given him bad directions, or he has a really bad sense of direction. . .no. . . it's the wizard's fault. Definitely the wizard's fault.
His sharp hearing soon hears the rowdiness of his fellow dwarves. Grinning, he follows it and some comes to a green door with a glowing dwarven rune of the front. The rune for Burglar. After opening the gate, he makes his way up to the door and pauses as he hears his company singing about something Bilbo Baggins hates. Bilbo Baggins? Is that the name of their burglar? That doesn't sound like a good strong name. . .oh well.
As he hears laughing from inside, he raises his fist and pounds three times on the door, causing all laughing to cease. He hates having to ruin their happiness, but there were things that needed to be done.
The door soon opens, and he looks up to see Gandalf standing there, his dwarves standing behind him.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."
"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago."
Thorin looks over at the little voice and sees the Hobbit. Curly sandy coloured hair and wearing white shirt and green trousers with suspenders. He has to scoff to himself, and he looks over this fellow. He was right. Not burglar material at all. Looking over his dwarves, he smiles as he sees his nephews. They smile back, Kili stepping up to him as Gandalf continues to speak.
"There is a mark. I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield."
After handing his cloak to his youngest nephew, Thorin turns to the Hobbit.
"So. . .this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"
"Pardon me?" Bilbo asks as he watches the dwarf circling him like a predator.
"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?" Thorin clarifies as he stands in front of him, arms crossed across his chest.
"Well, I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know. . .but I fail to see why that's relevant."
Thorin smirks at this. "Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
The dwarves chuckle as they lead Thorin deeper into the home. However, Thorin stops and turns to Gandalf.
"Did you not say you had found someone else to join us? Where are they?"
Bilbo pales at hearing this. Doesn't he have enough unexpected visitors in his home already?
"Ah, yes. I did find someone. She must be running a tad late. Do not worry, she will come."
Thorin raises his eyebrow. "She? You invited a woman to join us?"
"A woman she may be, Thorin, but she will be a big help to us. She is a strong fighter and has been in more fights than some here, I assure you. You will be pleased when she comes.
Thorin scoffs at this. The first person he found for his company not being impressive at all. He hardly believes the next will be any different.
"We will see."
He follows the others where they all settle down at the table with some ale, Thorin eating some soup that was managed to be salvaged for him.
"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asks.
Thorin nods as he swallows his mouthful of soup. "Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms."
This causes some cheers to go around the table.
"And what did the dwarves of the Iron Hill say?" Dwalin asks as he looks to his cousin. "Is Dain with us?"
Thorin pauses at this, the feeling of betrayal still going through him.
"They will not come. They say this quest is ours, and ours alone."
The disappointment is visible on the faces of the others.
"You're doing a quest?" Bilbo's voice pipes up from behind Gandalf.
"Ah Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light."
"Hm." Bilbo walks off to find a candle.
Gandalf stands, pulling some parchment from his pocket as space is made on the table.
"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
Gandalf places a map in front of Thorin, pointing to the mountain Erebor.
"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo reads aloud, looking over Thorin's left shoulder.
Gloin nods. "Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say; it is time."
Thorin hears the groans of Dori, being a superstitious dwarf and not beliving in portents or signs. Little Ori also groans, no doubt just trying to pacify his oldest brother.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold." Oin says, turning a glare to Dori, raising his voice at the end. "When the birds of the old return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
"Uh. . .what beast?" Bilbo asks nervously.
Bofur looks over to the hobbit. "Well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals."
"Yes, I know what a dragon is."
Ori jumps up from his seat. "I'm not afraid, I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the dwarfish iron right up his jacksy!"
"Good lad, Ori!" Nori cheers on his young brother.
Dori just scoffs as he pulls Ori back into his seat. "Sit down!"
Balin speaks over the commotion. "The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest."
Nori looks offended. "Ere! Who are you calling dim?"
"Sorry, what did he say?" Oin asks.
Fili's voice then calls up. "We may be few in number. But we're fighters, all of us! To the last dwarf!" he finishes by slamming his hand on the table.
Thorin just smiles at his eldest nephew. Fili gives a little smile and nod back at him as his younger brother speaks up.
"And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
"Oh, well. No, uh, I. . .I wouldn't say. . ." Gandalf stutters.
Dori turns to him. "How many then?"
"What?"
"How many dragons have you killed?"
Throin just turns to Gandalf in amusement as Gandalf just keeps quiet, silently choking on his pipe.
"Go on, give us a number!"
Most of the dwarves suddenly jump up and start shouting and arguing among themselves. Thorin can hear the small voice of Bilbo trying to stop, but obviously he isn't able to be heard over the loud dwarves. However, Thorin can be heard.
"Shazara!" Everyone sits down. "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"
The dwarves start to cheer.
Balin speaks up over the voices. "You forget, the front gate is sealed." Thorin sits down in defeat at this. "There is no way into the mountain."
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." Gandalf says as he pulls a key out of his pocket.
Thorin just looks at the key and Gandalf in shock.
"How came you by this?" Thorin asks.
"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now."
Gandalf hands the key to Thorin as everyone looks on in wonder. Thorin looks over the key and holds it tight as Fili speaks up.
"If there is a key, there must be a door."
Gandalf points at runes on his map with his pipe. "These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls."
"There's another way in!" Kili says excitedly.
"Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed." he sighs. "The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."
"That's why we need a burglar." Ori points out.
Bilbo nods. "Hm, A good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine."
"And are you?" Gloin asks.
Bilbo looks around at first, thinking Gloin was talking to someone else. "Am I what?"
"He said he's an expert! Hey hey!" Oin exclaims, followed by laughter of several dwarves.
"M-Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life."
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin says.
Bilbo nods in agreement.
Dwalin agrees with his brother. "Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves."
Bilbo continues nodding in agreement as the dwarves begin arguing. Gandalf, rises to his full height and casts darkness over the table, his voice growing deeper, which immediately stops the arguing as everyone backs away from him. Even Thorin backs up a little.
"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is." he goes back to his normal self. "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself." he turns to Thorin. "You must trust me on this."
Thorin just looks at Gandalf as he thinks about everything he said. It is true that Smaug would not be able to sniff Bilbo out easily, or if he does, then he won't immediately go for the Hobbit. But, what more can the fellow do? He can't fight, likely hasn't been away from home and has admitted to not having stolen in his life. He could wait for this mystery person Gandalf said he found, but he has no idea whether she would even show up. He just sighs. What other choice does he have? "Very well. We will do it your way."
"No, no, no." Bilbo tries to stop them.
Thorin turns to Balin. "Give him the contract."
"Please."
"Alright, we're off!" Bofur exclaims to the group.
Balin stands while handing Bilbo a long contract. "It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."
Thorin takes the contract and thrust it behind him into Bilbo's chest.
"Funeral arrangements?"
As Bilbo steps back a few feet to read the contract, Thorin stands and leans toward Gandalf and whispers to him.
"I cannot guarantee his safety."
"Understood."
"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."
Gandalf pauses. "Agreed."
Bilbo reads parts of the contract out loud. "Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fifteenth of total profit, if any. Seems fair. Eh, Present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof including but not limited to lacerations. . .evisceration. . ." he turns to the rest of us. "incineration?"
"Oh, aye, he'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye." Bofur says casually.
Bilbo is starting to look a little breathless.
"You all right, laddie?" Balin asks him.
Bilbo bends over. "Uh, yeah. . .Feel a bit faint."
Bofur stands, leaning over to talk to him. "Think furnace with wings."
"Air, I-I-I need air."
"Flash of light, searing pain, then Poof! you're nothing more than a pile of ash."
Everyone just watches as Bilbo breathes heavily, trying to compose himself.
"Hmmm. Nope."
Bilbo falls on the floor in a faint. Thorin just rolls his eyes at this.
"Ah, very helpful, Bofur." Gandalf scolds.
As Gandalf is about to go to the hobbit, there's a knock on the front door.
"Ah! She's finally here! Someone help this poor lad into the lounge."
Gandalf steps over Bilbo and makes his way to the front door. Thorin looks to Balin curiously before following. He hears the door open.
"You're late, my dear." Gandalf's voice is heard.
"I do apologise, Mithrandir, I would have been here sooner, but I was distracted on the road by bandits."
Thorin stops dead in his tracks as he hears that voice, his heart racing in his chest. He hasn't heard the voice in almost two centuries. He rushes out to the hall and sees her. The only elf in all of Middle Earth that doesn't bring him anger and disgust. She has just taken off her cloak and he can't help but stare. She has not changed. She is still just as beautiful as when he last saw her.
"Bloody bandits making me late." I mutter angrily to myself in elvish.
After receiving a message from Gandalf, while in Rohan, I had left and made my way to meet him in the Shire of all places. I had stopped in Bree to pick up more supplies and left when I was accosted by a group of bandits. Luckily, while time consuming, they were easy enough to dispatch and just leaving them behind after looting from them.
It is now well into the night. I should have been in the Shire hours ago, but I have finally arrived. Having left my horse, Vanya, to wander the nearby fields, I walk the rest of the way.
Looking around, I have to smile at the little hobbit homes. They look so quaint and cosy from the outside. I always loved the Shire, such a peaceful place. The people are a little distrustful, but that's to be expected.
Soon enough, I find the mark. My brow raises as I see the dwarven rune for Burglar. I just stop and stare at it. Dwarves? Is Gandalf serious? If he's brought dwarves to this meeting, this "quest", then I'm dead. Dwarves and elves do NOT get along. I just sigh as I walk through the gate and go up to the door, hesitating before I knock.
While I wait, I look up to the stars in the sky, my mind racing anxiously at what is waiting inside. The door soon opens and Gandalf stands there.
"You're late, my dear." Gandalf admonishes me.
I step inside. "I do apologise, Mithrandir, I would have been here sooner, but I was distracted on the road by bandits."
Gandalf shuts the door behind me as I take off my cloak. "Not to worry, you are here."
I notice some weapons nearby. "I take it I am the last? Did I miss anything?"
"We will catch you up on everything, do not panic." he then looks behind me. "Ah, here you are. I believe you two know each other?"
I frown at Gandalf in confusion before turning behind me. My body freezes. Thorin. . .the last person I had expected to see tonight. I haven't seen him since the Battle of Azanulbizar. . .I think is what they called the battle at Moria. Apart from looking older, strands of his hair having turned to silver white, he doesn't look any different. Still the handsome dwarf I fell in love with so many years ago. All I want to do is just rush at him and hold him close once again. However, not knowing my standing with him, I just stand straight, my face void of emotion.
I nod my head to him. "Thorin."
I see a flash of hurt and confusion go across his face for a second, which causes my heart to break, but he just does the same as I, drawing himself up to his full height as he nods back to me.
"Caladwen. It is good to see you."
I have to literally stop my legs from melting at his voice. The deep baritone always having that effect on me.
"As it is to see you."
There's an awkward silence in the air before another voice calls out.
"Gandalf, Bilbo's awake!"
"Right. Caladwen, come meet our host."
Giving Thorin another glance, I follow Gandalf further into the home, passing by more dwarves. I see most of these looking at me in shock and distrust, not believing an elf is among. Following Gandalf into the lounge, I see a hobbit sitting in an armchair by the fire, a cup of tea in his hands.
"Ah, my dear fellow. How are you?" Gandalf asks him.
Bilbo looks up and pauses as he sees me before he answers. "I-I am fine."
"Allow me to introduce Lady Caladwen to you, our final company member. Caladwen, this is Bilbo Baggins."
I glare at Gandalf at the title, having forgone that since leaving home, but I do smile and bow to Bilbo. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Baggins."
He stammers before nodding to me. "As it is to meet you, Lady Caladwen."
I just wave my hand dismissively. "Please, just Caladwen. I no longer go by Lady. Which, Gandalf knows about." I finish by throwing a glare at Gandalf. "If you will excuse me, I need some air."
I give another bow to Bilbo before turning on my heels and making for the front door, ignoring the stares of the dwarves. I pause for a moment as I walk past Thorin and Balin. Balin smiles and opens his mouth to say something, however I just walk by and out the front door.
Spotting a bench by the gates, I walk over and sit down, putting my head in my hands. Curse the wizard for not giving me a warning before this. If he had told me that no only would there be dwarves but Thorin, I could have prepared myself more for this meeting. At least then I would have had time to be prepared for the rejection I know is to come. I furiously swipe away the tears.
"Come on Caladwen, pull yourself together. All you have to do is keep your head on this quest and then you can leave. . ." I sigh as I look down at my hands, catching the silver betrothal ring on my finger. "It would be the best for everyone."
Well, there we have chapter 1. I hope you enjoyed this one much better than before. I know I did writing this. Please leave me your thoughts on comments on this. xx
Translations;
Shazara! - Enough! - not sure if this is the true meaning, but it's something I found a while ago, so I'm sticking with it until told otherwsie x
Du Bekâr! - To arms!