Chapter:3 A unexpected adventure
The sun shined warmly into the room and onto the bed where Donald peacefully slept,well at least for some moments,Donald woke up by the sunlight and then realized how their room had changed, it looked just like they had been transported to the Middle ages,the room was small with a fireplace right in front of the bed and the beds he and Della had slept in had been from separated to a one-bed.
He tossed the covers off,walked to the window…and the sight made him let out a quiet gasp.
Outside the window was a dirt road which should be weird,except that there were no cars outside,he just thought that they had appeared in another town,but now he had no idea where they were at all and now his calm sense disappeared.
He ran to his sleeping uncle in the chair and began to wildly shake him.
" Wake up, Uncle Scrooge,wake up!"
The duck grumbled in his sleep.
" Not now,lad it's too early…"
This made him just shake him more and yell out in completely panicked now:
" Please just wake up,something had happened to our room, we may have been kidnapped,nothing is the same!"
This made him wake up and even Della too who jumped of the bed and both rushed to the window just in time to see a small person walk past,but this person wasn't like anything they had seen,he had no fur or some kind of animal features at all,well expect for the feet that was covered in hair.
" What is that?" Della asked.
" No Idea" Scrooge answered…. even if he had a guess.
Donald began to really feel scared.
" What happened,where are we?"
Scrooge shrugged his shoulders.
" No Idea lad,but one thing is clear,we are not in England anymore."
Donald facepalmed at that choiceword.
" Seriously of all the references you came with that one?"
" Hey,I haven't seen a movie since the 1930s!"
Della quickly made them change the conversation to something more interesting by asking:
" Hey what kind of adventures do you think are here?"
Scrooge looked a bit surprised and said something that shocked them both,mostly Della.
" Lass I don't think that something we can focus on now"
" Okay who are you and where is the real Scrooge Mcduck?"
" Lass this is not the time for jokes,we need to figure out where we are"
This made Della excited.
" All right, come on then!" She yelled,quickly dressed and ran out of the room.
" Lass!"
" Della,Wait!"
Her uncle and brother ran after her, but before that Donald took the rock from the day before,suspecting that it had something to do with what happened.
Outside they saw nothing but a road that led either right or left,and also a sign,they went forward and on it stood Hobbiton which pointed to the left.
" Well at least we have a direction" Donald said as a desperate attempt to be positive.
It wasn't much but it was at least something so they followed it,they didn't really pay so much attention to where they were heading they just followed the path and hoped it would lead to a town,which it thankfully did,they saw it in the distance,but when they came in they saw how different it was from any city they had ever seen,instead of tall buildings,the houses seemed to be build inside the hills in some way.
" I must admit I like the architecture of the houses here" Della said.
" Yeah to be honest I would actually like to live here, it looks cozy" Donald answered.
" But that still doesn't answer the question: where are we?" He added since he and his sister had no Idea.
But Scrooge knew now without a doubt where they were,how could he not since he would recognize these houses anywhere he had even sat down and talked about them with his friend.
" No don't think on that!"
They continued to walk through the town,and finally came up towards the top where they saw a house with a green door,where someone was sitting on a bench and smoked a very long wood pipe,but he wasn't alone a large figure stood in front of him dressed in a whole-covered gray cloak a pointy hat was on top of his head and he held a big wooden staff in his hand.
They were close enough now to hear the conversation between them too which seemed to just have begin now:
" Good morning the small man said to the tall one before who answered with:
"What do you mean,do you think that it is a good morning,or that it is a good morning wherever I want it or not? Or would you say that you feel good this particular morning or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?"
" All of them at once I suppose".
It was quiet for the moment before the small person asked:
" Can I help you?"
" Well that remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure".
The small man removed his pipe and looked like he thought he heard wrong:
" A adventure,I don't imagine anyone west of Bree having much interest in adventure,nasty disturbing uncomfortable things"
Della gasped loudly about the comment of her favorite hobby,Scrooge quickly covered her beak but too late,the two men had heard them.
The small man greeted them with a wave.
" Can we be of assistance?" The tall man asked.
All three was a bit unsure what they would say but Scrooge decided to at least tell half the truth:
" We are a bit lost"
Before they could answer,Della quickly asked about the adventure part they heard before.
" Did you mention something about an adventure?"
The old man looked at her and nodded yes:
" Yes I did,and I was awaiting a answer from our hobbit here"
He then turned to the small man once again who said just one thing:
" Good morning"
The old man finally had enough of that repeated Word:
" To think that I should have lived to be good morning by Belladonna Took's son like I was selling buttons of the door!"
The name got the man to stop in his tracks on his way to his door.
" Beg your pardon?"
" You're changed and appearlantly not for the better Bilbo Baggins"
" I'm sorry, do I know you?"
" Well you know my name even if you don't know I belonged to it. I'm Gandalf,and Gandalf means me!"
The name seemed to awaken some memories.
" Gandalf! Not the wandering wizard who made fantastic fireworks,I remember them, they revealed themselves as flowers,and gold rain of fire,and danced in the dusk whole evening!"
He looked at the wizard,with eyes that were full of amazement.
" Had no Idea you were still in business"
" And where Else would I be?"
No answer came,just some smoke rings.
" Well I'm happy to see that you remember something about me even if it's my fireworks".
He got a glim in his eyes and added:
" Well It's decided then it will be good for you and most amusing for me,I shall inform the others"
But now Bilbo felt like he had to protest.
" Inform,no Wait we don't want any adventures,here Thank you,I suggest that you try over hill or maybe across the waters"
He cleared his throat as he looked over the trio:
" I'm sorry that we hadn't helped you,but maybe you three can come over to me later this evening and take a cup of tea with me?"
Scrooge felt a bit happy for the invitation:
" Thank you my good sir"
Bilbo gave a small smile,said a last good morning,and walked through his green round door.
Gandalf stood still for a moment and then walked up and carved something in the door,before walking down once again.
" So what can I help you with?"
Knowing that Scrooge wouldn't answer Donald showed the wizard the rock and explained the situation or at least some version of it.
" As our uncle said before we are lost,this rock transported us here,and we had no Idea how to get home.
" Interesting,may I look at it?"
Donald doubted for a second but then gave him it,and he examined it.
" This rock brought you here?"
" Yes"
" Was it some incantation written on it?"
Donald remembered:" Oh,yes the riddle was : If you are worthy of the entrance, speak friend and the door will open for you"
" I see,well sadly it seems like nothing's is there anymore"
" What?!" Scrooge yelled and took the rock from Gandalf as he himself examined it,it was true,no words were visible on the stone.
" What did you do with it?" Scrooge angry said as he pointed his cane at the wizard who calmly answered:
" I can assure you,my good sir,I didn't do anything,and can you please lower your cane?"
Scrooge just stared at him but then lowered it.
" What will we do now?" He muttered but Gandalf heard him and came with a suggestion.
" Sadly I can't help you but I know some people in Middle-Earth who I think can".
" Excuse me but what is Middle-Earth?" Della asked,very intrigued
" The world that you are in now,Young lady,and this part of it is called The Shire:the home of the halflings or hobbits as they are also called".
Della tried to ask more,but Scrooge got to the point:
" So you said that you knew some that should help us?"
" Yes and he is on the part of the adventure that I offered to Master Baggins,and if you want you three can join us for a while,until we are there".
Scrooge thought about it and asked:
" Why do you want to help us?"
" It's my purpose,and because I want to"
" All Right we will join you,but don't try to trick me,just because you like to use the easy path,believe me I will not be tricked"
" Once again,I assure you I will not trick you"
" So when does the adventure begin?"
" Well master Baggins gave you an invitation so go there and wait and the rest of us will come".
And with that he turned around and walked away from them.
They went back to the inn where they eat a nice breakfast while Della couldn't stop talking about their Journey.
" Oh this is so exciting,we are going on an adventure!" Della said much to her uncle's annoyance.
" Lass,for the last time,we are not going on an adventure,we will just join them for a bit until we arrive at the man who can help us".
Della finally had enough of this atuditle of her Uncle:
" Okay, that's enough,what has happened to you,to the legendary adventurer who traveled over the whole world,looking for treasure,why are you so down on adventure all of a sudden?"
" Lass that is not important right now" was his answer as he just continued to eat,and Della realized that he wouldn't answer so she was just quiet.
Many hours later after a trip at the market,they left the inn( Della with her bagage from home that had followed them here).
The sun had sunk beyond the horizon so they decided to go to Bilbo since he hadn't said a specific time,and when they knocked,the hobbit opened the door dressed in a gown.
"Oh just in time, the tea is finished".
They stepped in as Scrooge hung up his hat on one of many hooks next to the door as they looked around the hall.
" Nice house" Donald said which made the hobbit smile a bit.
" Thank you,Young man,my home is everything to me".
They went into the kitchen and sat down at the table where Bilbo sat down three tea cups,poured tea into them and sat down himself but before anyone managed to say anything a knock was heard at the door.
Bilbo turned to his three guests:
" Did anyone accompany you?"
" No it's just us ," Della answered.
Bilbo raised from his chair, walked to the door and opened it,outside stood a dwarf with a sledgehammer over his shoulder.
" Dwalin at your service"
The hobbit decided to be a good host and answered:
" Bilbo,Baggins,at yours"
Dwalin ignored him and just stepped inside the hobbit hole.
" Do we know each other?"
" No"
He took a look around and asked:
" Which way,Laddie is it down here?"
" Is what down where?"
" Supper,he said it be food and lots of it"
" He said,who said?"
A few moments later,Dwalin sat at the table eating a plate with food that Bilbo had made for himself before Scrooge and the kids came.
" Very good, do you have anything more?"
" What? Oh yes,yes"
The hobbit took a basket full of bread,gave three to Scrooge,Della and Donald,kept one for himself and gave the rest to Dwalin who defrauded them instantly.
"Not to disturb you my good dwarf,but except my three invited guests,I wasn't expecting company".
Just as he said that the doorbell rang again and he went and opened it and this time stood a dwarf that could only be described as ancient,his beard was so long that it almost touched the ground.
" Balin at your service".
" Good evening"
" Yes yes it is, though I expect it might be rain later"
He stepped inside and saw Dwalin's hood and Scrooge's hat on the hooks
" Ah good so Dwalin is here,but it seems like someone unfamiliar has joined us tonight,intriguing"
He then saw Dwalin and immediately greeted him:
" Evening brother!"
" Oh by my beard, you look wider and shorter than the last we met"
" Wider not shorter,Sharp enough for both of us…"
The brothers chuckled, grabbed each other's shoulders,and headbutted each other as greetings.
Before Bilbo could say something a third knock was heard and now the twins followed Bilbo to the door and outside stood two Dwarfs one blonde and one with dark hair.
" Fili"
" And Kili"
" At your service!"
The last part they Said together.
" You must be mister Boggins" Kili said.
" Nope can't come in,wrong house!"
He tried to shut the door but Kili pushed it open with a confused look:
" Wait, has it been canceled?" He asked.
" No one told us," Fili added.
The hobbit really started to get a headache right now. What was happening?.
" Um nothing's been canceled" was the only thing he managed to say.
" Oh that's a relief" Fili said as he and Kili stepped inside, took their swords from their belts and looked around almost like they were looking for an umbrella stand.
Donald rushed forward,desperate to help Bilbo.
" Me and my sister can take care of your swords, my good dwarfs".
" Thanks Young man but be careful they have been sharpened." Fili warned as he handed Donald his weapon and Kili gave his to Della then they both followed Bilbo to the dining room,but just as they stepped in a fourth ring was heard.
Bilbo finally had enough:
" There is nobody home! Go away and bother someone else,I have far many guests in my dining room as it is,if this is some kind of joke I can only say it is in very poor taste!"
But when he arrived at the door,he saw that Donald already had his hand on the door handle.
" Don't worry I can greet them you don't deserve all this madness"
He opened and was greeted by a Dwarf pile on top of him,everyone fell inside and onto him.
And behind them awaited a familiar old man.
" Gandalf…."
Della helped her brother out from the pile.
" Are you okay,Don?" She asked a bit worredly.
He gave her a calming smile:
" Don't worry sis,I'm all right"
Before Bilbo or the Mcducks could understand, all the dwarfs began to loot his whole pantry and took every piece of food,much to his protests but no one listened,so Della decided to just help set the table together with Scrooge and the others.
Scrooge did because he realized that a feast would happen now so he could at least help prepare it.
Donald stood with Bilbo and tried to stop the dwarves but it was no use,soon everything was taken and placed on the finished table.
Now the feast was here, Scrooge,Della and Donald sat at the table,since they decided a good dinner wouldn't so bad after all,and Della filled her plate with so much that it almost fell off.
Some minutes after the feast was over, Ori looked over at them with a question:
" Excosue me but do you three know where I can put my plate?"
" No but come on We ask Bilbo"
Donald and Della left the table and found their host in the hall,who had finished his questions/complaints to Gandalf, but when Ori
asked his question Fili came and took his plate, tossed it to his brother,who began to perform some kind of dance with it before tossing it in the other room.
" Excuse me, that's my Mother's west farthing pottery,it over 100 years old!"
But of course no one listened and inside the dinering room,the dwarves vegan to play music with their knives and forks.
"Can you stop with that?,you can blunt them.
Oh you heard that lads,he says we blunt the knives" Bofur said and they started a song ss they began to clean up in their own way:
" Blunt the knives,bend the forks"
"Smash the bottles,and burn the corks"
"Chip the glasses and crack the plates,that's what Bilbo's Baggins hates!"
They tossed some plates to Della who gladly joined in on the song,stomping her foot,and slowly learned the lyrics:
" Cut the cloth,tread on the fat leave the bones on the bedroom mat,Pour the milj on the pantry floor"
" Splash the wine on every door,Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl"
" Pound them up with a thumping pole"
" When you're finished,if they are whole"
"Send them down the hall to roll"
Now some of the dwarves began to use some items as instruments,and now Donald even joined he took out his guitar and began playing,much to the amusement of the dwarves.
" That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
Now everyone ( except Donald) joined in on this part,but he was just happy with this environment and hoped that this moment would never end but sadly a knock was heard on the front door and everyone stopped.
" He's here" was the wizard's only word.
Everyone rushed to the door as Gandalf opened it and there stood a dwarf with black hair that seemed important,sure he had a simple Brown cloak around him but something about him was different.
" Gandalf,I thought you said this place was easy to find,I lost my way twice,wouldn't have found it at all if it wasn't for the mark on the door". He said as he stepped inside.
Gandalf introduced him to the hobbit and Mcducks:
"My friends allow me to introduce the leader of this company,Thorin Oakenshield.
Thorin turned his head towards the four he had been introduced to with a disappointed look mostly for the children:
" So,this is the hobbit". He said with a tone full of bitterness,and decided to test them a bit.
" Tell me what kind of weapons you prefer?"
" Sword!" Della answered,which was true she had taken fencing classes a few weeks before.
Thorin looked at her and nodded a bit and turned to Bilbo and Donald who awkwardly Held up his guitar.
" And you master Baggins?"
" Well I do have some skill at conkers,if you must know,but I fail to see how that's relevant.
" I thought as much,those two looks more like a failed musician and a grocer for a burglar"
Thorin said which made the dwarves laugh mostly for the comment about Bilbo but Donald still got hurt,but luckily Della put an arm around him,and he felt a bit better.
Soon everyone were gathered at the table where Thorin ate his small dinner: A bowl of soup and some ale to drink as Balin asked about if other's dwarves had heard the news:
" Anything from the meetings in Ered Luin,did they all come?"
" Aye envoys from all seven kingdoms"
All the dwarves cheered and the next question came this time from Dwalin:
" And from the dwarves of the Iron Hills say,is Dain with us?"
Thorin shook his head:
" They are not coming,they say this quest is ours and ours alone"
" Are you on a quest?" Bilbo asked and Della couldn't hold back her excitement anymore:
" Oh please can we know what all this is about?"
Gandalf chuckled and answered:
" Don't worry young lady your questions will be fulfilled"
He then took out a small parchment,put it on the table and revealed it to be a map and then he finally Della duck got her answer:
" Far to the east over ranges and rivers across woodlands and wastelands lies a single,solitary peak"
Bilbo, Scrooge Della and Donald looked at the map and read in unison:
" The lonely mountain…"
" Aye Qin has read the runes and they tell that it's time.
" The ravens have been seen returning to the mountain,as it was foretold. Qin said and then he spoke the prophecy:
" When the birds of yore return to Erebor,the reign of the beast will end".
This perked both Bilbo's and the twins curiousity and Della asked:
" Oh what kind of beast are we talking about?"
" That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible the chiefest and greatest calamity of our age,Airborne- firebreather,Teeth like razors,claws like meat hooks,extremely fond of precious metals."
" Lad we all know what a dragon is"
That was the first words Scrooge had uttered in the whole evening.
Thorin decided to quickly get to the point and some problems as well.
" I understand if you are doubtful Id we have read the signs maybe others have Done it too, I will be honest,rumors have begun to spread,eyes are looking towards the mountain assessing wondering,weighing the risk,perhaps the vast wealth our people now lies unprotected, so I ask you,do we sir back while others claim what's rightfully ours or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor?"
Everyone cheered at this including Della but Balin came with bad news:
" You forget,the bad news is sealed there is no way into the mountain"
Luckily Gandalf knew otherwise:
" That,my friend, isn't entirely true".
He held up a key.
" How did you come by this?"
" It was given to me by your father,Thrain,now it is yours"
He gave the key to Thorin who looked at it like it was a treasure.
Gandalf pointed to some runes on the map and said: These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls,well if we can find it but Dwarf Doors are invisible when closed"
Donald raised his hand.
" But the map maybe has the answer,right?"
Gandalf nodded impressed.
" Correct, the answer lies hidden somewhere in this map,sadly I don't have the skill to find it,but luckily there are those in Middle Earth that can.
He glanced at Scrooge:
" And who can help you get home"
"The task I have in mind requires a great deal of stealth,and no small amount of courage,but if we are careful and clever I believe that can be done".
" That's why we need a burglar" Ori said
" And a good one too," Bilbo answered.
" Yeah you would need an expert" Donald added,both unaware what this would lead to.
" And are you?" Gloin asked
They both looked at him,confused.
" Am I what?" They asked in unison.
" They said they are experts" Qin answered,but possibly with bad hearing,despite his hearing aid.
Now they both realized:
" Wait us,oh no no, I'm not a burglar,I have never stolen a thing in my life" Bilbo Quickly defended himself.
" Same,trust me I'm not burglar material" Donald said.
Scrooge quickly raised from his chair to defend his nephew:
" Hey my nephew is not going to join this quest!"
" I think I have to agree with you on that laddie" Balin answered, which made Donald nod gratefully at him.
" 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 a hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a adantvage".
Bilbo tried to say something,but nothing came out as Gandalf turned to Thorin and countined:
" You asked me to find the 14th member of the company and I chose Master Baggins,believe me there's a LOT more to him than his appearances suggest,he also got a great deal more to offer than any of you,including himself know".
Thorin was quiet,then muttered:
" Very well".
" Give him the contract!" He added,very reactually.
Bilbo tried to say something,but nothing came out and soon he had a large contract in his hands from Balin.
" It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses,time required remuneration,funeral arrangements and so forth".
" Funeral arrangements?" The hobbit asked terrified but began to read the contract.
Thorin meanwhile leaned to Gandalf and whispered:
" I will not guarantee for either the hobbit's or their safety"
He looked towards the Mcducks who hadn't heard what he said.
" Understood
" Nor will I be responsible for their fate"
" Agreed"
Bilbo had read through the contract, now he was the part that said that the company wasn't responsible for any injuries,and asked about the last one that sounded the most horrible.
" Incineration?"
Bofur immediately began explaining:
" Aye He' II melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye".
That comment made the hobbit began having trouble with his breathing.
" Are you okay lad?" Scrooge asked worried about him.
" Oh yeah of course,just feel a bit faint".
And sadly Bofur just continued with his explanation:
" Imagine a furnace with wings"
" Air I need air"
" Flash of light,searing pain and poof nothing but a pile of ash."
This was the last drop their host fainted right there before them.
" Wow great job" Della saractially said as Gandalf and Scrooge lifted Bilbo and carried him to the sofa where he laid for a while.
Donald meanwhile just felt sympathy for the dwarves and felt like he just wanted to help them sure he wasn't happy that they had just picked him and Bilbo,but they just wanted their home which he understood.
A few minutes later Bilbo woke up and got a cup of tea and just sat on the sofa for maybe 15 minutes still a bit shaken,with the twins and Gandalf with him.
"I'm all right I just need to take it easy"
" You been taking it easy too long" Gandalf said and asked;
" Tell me when did doties and your mother's dishes became so important? I remember a hobbit that always ran off to search after elves in the woods,who would come home late after dark trailing mud and twigs and fireflies,one who would have liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire,the world is not in your books or Maps,it's out there".
He pointed to the window, Bilbo looked out and one moment it felt like something was begging him to run out and explore but once again he fought that feeling:
" I can't just run off into the blue,I'm a Baggins of Bag's end"
"You're also a Took" Gandalf reminded him which made the Hobbit sigh and sink back into the sofa.
But Gandalf just turned to the twins and asked
" Children would you like to hear a story about Mr Baggins's relative Bullroarer Took?"
" Oh this sounds interesting" Della said.
" That would be nice"
Gandalf smiled and began the story for the twins and Bilbo:
" Did you know that Mr Baggins' great-great-great-great uncle Bullroarer Took,was so large that he could ride a real horse?"
" Yes" Bilbo muttered.
" Well he could,in the battle of Green-Field he charged the goblin ranks he swing his club so hard it knocked the goblin's head clear off and it sailed a hundreds yards through the air and down a rabbit-hole and so the battle was won and golf invented at the same time".
Donald and Della was completely in the story but Bilbo was a bit supicius:
" I bet you made that up"
Gandalf sat down in a chair in front of him with a explanation:
" Well all good stories deserve embellishment and you will have a tale or two to tell when you come back"
" Can you promise that I will return?"
"No and if you do you will not been the same"
" That's what I thought sorry Gandalf,but you picked the wrong hobbit" Bilbo said as he got up and began to walk away,but then he turned towards the twins.
" I hope that you will find your way home"
" Thanks" Donald said.
Della felt a yawn slowly leave her and seconds later,the same happened to Donald.
" It seems like two small people needs the sleep's healing now"
" No way,I promise you Gandalf,we are going to be up all night!" Della said…before falling on the sofa fully asleep.
Scrooge walked in and lifted up his niece and looked at his nephew.
" Come lad it's time to go to bed.
Donald nodded and followed his uncle,but turned to Gandalf and said Goodnight to him which made him smile at the boy.
Bilbo led them to two bedrooms Wall to wall,and then walked to his own, and hoped that all this maybe was a dream.
Scrooge managed to find some sort of sleeping clothes. He helped his sleeping niece off with her clothes,put the nightgown on her and laid her down on the bed.
Donald quickly changed into a nightgown and laid down beside his sister.
" Goodnight,lad"
Donald yawned a bit:
" Goodnight,Uncle Scrooge"
The old duck walked out to a fireplace nearby and for the first time since they got here his thoughts fully went to his deceased friend without forcing them away.
" Why did you want us to be here,Tolkien, I don't understand it…"
For the first time in his life, he truly didn't understand what was happening,in all places,that he could have sended them,why had it to be in his creation,and how was it possible,he just didn't understand.
Suddenly he thought he heard singing from the living room,he sneaked to the entrance and saw that all the dwarves had gathered at the fireplace and had begun to sing a song,a song filled with sorrow and loss:
"Far over the Misty mountains cold"
" To dungeons deep and caverns old"
" We must break away ere break of day"
" To find our long-forgotten gold"
" The pines were roaring on the height"
" The winds were moaning in the night
" The fire was red,it flaming spread"
" The trees like torches blazed with light"
When the song was over,he snuck to his own bedroom while his brain was filled with thoughts,like for example,that song was about Smaug's attack on Erebor,and he couldn't help to feel sorry for them,how many friends and family had lost their lives that day?
But then another thought came:
" This isn't your problem,you just need to get your family out of here"
" Yeah that is the most important thing right, now"
But when he went to his bed,he felt a bit ashamed of the thoughts,and when he fell asleep he dreamed about freeing Erebor from the dragon,and he couldn't help but to smile a bit.
A/N For your new readers: I accidentally deleted this Chapter and had to write it again,so this can maybe be different from the first version.