The Starlight Queen

Chapter 3

"How came you by this?" Thorin demanded.

"It was given to me by your father by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now." Gandalf responded, handing the Key to Thorin.

"If there is a key..." Fili said

"Than there must be a door!" I finished for him.

"Exactly!" he said.

"These markings give us direction to a secret passage to the lower halls." Gandalf said, pointing to some ruins on the map.

"Than there must be another way in!" Kili said.

"Hey wate, Kili, didn't you tell me something about dwarven doors being invisible?" I asked. his face fell visibly.

"the location lies somewhere in this map, but I do not have the skills to find it." Gandalf said, making Kili slump up against the wall. "But there are others in middle earth who can. The task I have in mind will take a great deal of stealth, and equal amounts of courage. But if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar." Ori said, looking at Bilbo.

"mm, and a good one, I'd imagine." Bilbo agreed. "An Expert." 

I shook my head. "He has no clue he is supposed to be the burglar, does he." I asked Kili, who shook his head in response.

"Are you an Expert?" Gloin asked. Bilbo looked surprised. I laughed.

"Am I what?" Bilbo asked.

"An expert burglar silly!" I said, trying to calm my giggles.

"Me? No, No no no, I'm not a burglar, I've never stolen anything in my life." Bilbo said, folding his arms.

"I'm afraid I agree with Mr.Baggends. he is hardly burglar material." Balin said.

"I could be your Burglar." I said.

"Lass-" Balin tried to reason.

"What, I'm coming anyway, I could at least be useful." I argued.

"She has a point." Fili said.

"You are even less fit for a burglar than Mr.Bagends over here." Thorin said. I glared at him.

"I bet I could steal your money."

"You are not going to be our burglar. And that's final." He powerfuly, glaring back.

"Fine." I said, standing up sharply and leaving the room.

"Thorin, you just lost us our only hope of a burglar!" I heard someone say.

"No, We still have Bilbo..."

"Yeah, right. 'cuz he is gonna be a burglar."

"Enough!" I heard Gandalf yell. everyone was silent. "If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is! 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 a dwarf, the scent of a 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."

More silence.

"You must trust me on this one." Gandalf said.

"but no one trusts me." I said, looking down at the pouch of money I had stolen from Thorin in hopes of him noticing how good of a thief I was. I opened the door, and left. "If he wants his money back, he'll have to realize it was gone." I thought. I sat down on the steps outside the door and stared at the pouch. I heard the door open and I quickly hid the it.