From Other Worlds

The Unexpected Expected Party

Rayna rubbed the back of her neck as she walked up Bagshot Row much later than she intended. The Rangers took her out a little further that day and all she was looking forward to was a warm bath and her bed.

Her head shot up when she heard a banging on the door of Bag End as she opened the gate.

"Are you expected?" she asked the stranger at the door as she climbed the steps.

He turned as he pulled his hood down, "I am. Are you?"

"Usually yes." Rayna couldn't help but feel like she recognized him from somewhere.

"Gandalf made no mention of a maiden."

"That's a name I haven't heard in a long while." Rayna moved passed the dwarf, "I live here, so that could be why. May I have your name sir?"

"Thorin."

Rayna felt like a shock ran down her spine as she reached for the doorknob. She knew why she recognized him.

"Please come on in." She opened the door, allowing Thorin to enter first.

"I would have been here earlier, but I lost my way twice." Thorin was speaking to Rayna as dwarves were walking to the front hall, "Wouldn't have found this place if Gandalf didn't place a mark on the door."

"Bilbo had that painted a week ago." Rayna looked at the mark before closing the door, turning to see a front hall filled with dwarves, "Oh."

"Bilbo! This is the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf introduced.

"So this is the hobbit." Thorin turned to Bilbo, "Tell me Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?"

"Axe or sword, is your weapon of choice?"

Rayna turned so she could watch, hand covering her mouth so she could try not to show the delight and anxiety she was feeling as the memories of what was going on came back to her. She was being watched however, and the young dwarf assumed she found this exchange comical.

"I do have some skill at conquers, if you must know. But I fail to see why that is relevant."

"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar."

"Well you haven't played him in conquers." Rayna folded her cloak over her arm, gathering all attention to her now.

"Ah, I do not believe we have met. I am Gandalf the Grey." He held his hand out.

"Rayna Thorne." She shook his hand.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Gandalf kept hold of her hand.

"What gave it away?" she took her hand back.

"You're later than usual." Bilbo pointed out, ignoring the audience.

"Erod took us a little further north today. That's all."

"I'm afraid I don't have supper for you." Bilbo bounced on the balls of his feet, giving a slight tilt of his head.

"Yeah, I thought not. Erod always keeps me well fed, but I have a sneaking suspicion that our late guest might want something to eat."

"If it's not too much trouble." Thorin said.

"I can fix something up." Rayna moved passed the dwarves to the kitchen. Many of the dwarves noticed how she was dressed more like a ranger than a hobbit.

"Does your wife always wear trousers, Master Baggins?" Dwalin crossed his arms. They heard her laugh from the other room.

"Rayna is not my wife. She's my tenant." Bilbo put his hands on his hips, "And almost always yes. She prefers them."