Arien, Lady of Rivendell

The plan is revealed

Ariens eyes met the Wizards from across the room. Thorin had arrived. The company was suddenly silent as they all made their way towards the door, Gandalf taking the lead. Arien trailed behind Bilbo and watched as the wizard slowly swung open the round green door. The brooding dwarf stood in the doorway, his shoulders broader and his presence more outstanding than the others, it was clear he was royalty.
"Gandalf, I thought you said this place was easy to find. I lost my way twice, I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for the mark on the door." Thorin said as he stepped into the small hobbit hole. The others dwarves for once were silent. Bilbo brushed past her and started towards the door.
"Mark! There's no mark on that door it was painted a week ago!" Bilbo exclaimed and attempted to search it as Gandalf swiftly closed it, preventing the hobbit from doing so.
"There is a mark, I put it there myself." He admitted with a huff. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."
The dwarf leader stepped forward surveying the hobbit, sizing him up.
"So this is the hobbit, tell me Mr Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin asked.
"Pardon me?" Bilbo replied shocked at his question.
"Axe or sword? What is your weapon of choice?" The dwarf circled him.
"Well I do have some skill at conkers if you must know, but I fail to see why it's relevant." Bilbo replied, his gaze falling to his feet.
Thorin smirked.
"I thought as much, he looks more like a grocer than a burglar."
Arien frowned. "Thorin, do not be unkind." She muttered and all eyes turned to her.
"Ahh Arien, I see you made it." He grinned, she nodded as the dwarf walked towards her. He held out his hand for her to shake. Raising an eyebrow she complied, his grip firm and forceful. Arien gasped with slight shock as he pulled her into a brief hug, patting her hard on the back.
"I am glad to see you again, and that you are joining us." The dwarf pulled away and she spotted the others bearing puzzled looks. Arien was aware that Thorin was only being kind, helping the others to accept her within the group. After all she was an elf among dwarves and they couldn't be more different.

A few moments later they were ushered back into the dining hall. Arien shifted her seat to the side to make room for Thorin, who now sat at its head, a plate of food before him.
"What news from the meeting at Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin questioned eager to begin the planning.
Thorin nodded in response.
"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms."
"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked, Ariens mind latched onto the name, it was familiar, he was Lord of the dwarven realm North East of the lonely mountain. Thorin's cousin.
"They will not come, they say this quest is ours and ours alone."
"Your going on a quest?" Bilbo piped up as he leant on the back of Ariens chair, she could feel the nervousness radiating off him. Her hand grasped onto his which was wrapped tightly around the chair and gave him a small reassuring smile. Despite the hobbits oddities, she liked him.
"Bilbo my dear fellow, let us have a little light." Gandalf suggested then continued, producing a map from within his robes and placing it flat on the table. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak."
"The lonely mountain." Bilbo echoed the words inscribed on the parchment.
"Oin has read the portents and the portents say that it is time." A red headed dwarf exclaimed from down the table.
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountains as it was foretold. When the Ravens return to Erebor, the rein of the beast will end." Oin added, he was clearly the oldest of the group.
"What beast?" Bilbo questioned.
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age." Bofur explained. "Air borne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, extremely fond of precious metals.."
"Yes I know what a dragon is." Bilbo interrupted.
"I'm not afraid, I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of dwarfish iron right up his Jacksie!" The youngest exclaimed, clearly over his head. Beside him Dori grasped his brother and pulled him down into his seat muttering a harsh;
"Sit down!" As the room erupted with shouting. Balins' voice rose above the others and it quietened slightly.
"This task would be difficult with an army behind us, but we number just 13 and not 13 of the best, nor brightest." At that comment more exclamations arose.
"We may be few in number, but we are fighters, all of us, to the last Dwarf!" Fili yelled and his brother beside him piped in.
"And do you forget we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."
Arien smiled slightly, knowing that this was not true. As far as she was aware the wizard had killed none, Gandalf himself seemed clearly surprised by this.
"Oh well no, I wouldn't say.."
"How many then?"
"What?" The wizard asked.
"Well how many dragons have you killed?" Dori pestered and the wizard coughed on his pipe. "Go on give us a number!"
Once again a shouting match erupted, Arien closed her eyes to block it out and leant back in her chair, already having enough of dwarves for a lifetime. This was no way to get things done.