The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings one shots and Imagines Book II

A dwarf in hobbit's clothing - Part 5 - Balin x Reader

(Y/n) rolled over and found a slumbering Bilbo next to her. She was sure that he was dreaming about the fire and his comfortable chair, at Bag End; about a lovely meal in their dining room and a goodnight's sleep in his comfortable bed, and as much as she wished she could dream about the same thing, she just couldn't. Sleep was alluding her, not that that was a strange thing; from a young age, she would always struggle to let her mind rest, and when she did, she would have the strangest dreams; dreams of the most beautiful of places. A gleaming city cut from the living rock itself, that glistened with streaks of silver. Its callosal pillars and vaulted ceilings rising so far above, that she felt as though she were little more than the tiniest of beings, in comparison. Yet it was always the lake that she would find herself drawn to in her sleep. A dark blue lake, that each time she looked into it, she would see her head surrounded by a crown of seven beautiful, bright stars. Not that she had ever told anyone about these visions in her sleep. Visions that made her feel as though she had been to this wonderful city before; that it was where she had once called home. But she knew that she would sound foolish. The only place that she had ever called home, was the Shire; was Bag End. So how could this place be anything to do with her.

Slowly, she pushed herself up onto her elbows; a soft sigh leaving her lips. Most of the Company seemed to be as asleep as Bilbo was; the only one appearing to be awake........well, he had his eyes open, was the one called Nori, whom Thorin had ordered to take the watch. The female dwarf taking a chance and carefully pushing back her blanket, before getting to her feet. It obvious that Nori wasn't as awake as he appeared, as she managed to slip passed him without being seen.

She knew that she probably shouldn't do it; that it would give Thorin one more thing to complain about. (Y/n) not deaf to his continued complaints about having a female along on their quest. Not that she cared; she knew that she was as good with her weapons as any dwarf that the Durin had with him, and even though Bungo and Belladonna had raised her to be well mannered and respectful, Thorin was not her king, and the Lonely Mountain was nothing to do with her. The only reason that she had agreed to come along on this venture, was because the one that would be king, had annoyed her, insulted her; insinuated that she was something that she wasn't, and believed that she had no notion of how to look after herself. So, she had determined to show him that he was wrong about everything; that, and in a strange way, the idea of meeting this Smaug, excited her.

Slowly she followed her nose and ears, down to the little river where Dori had brought some water from earlier, so that Bombur could cook their supper and boil the kettle for tea. (Y/n) taking the boots from her feet and letting them slip into the cool water. A happy relieved sigh leaving her lips as she took in the beauty of the moon illuminated scape around her.

Suddenly she remembered something; her hand reaching up to her chin, a huff leaving her lips as she felt the growling stubble. Over the years she had done everything that she could to rid herself of her facial whiskers. Belladonna having to soothe her more than once when Horace Bolger had taken it upon himself to tease her about it; though that had all promptly ended after (Y/n) had realised that she was bigger and stronger than Horace would ever be, and she had not only thrown him into the river; but also, into Druda Burrow's pig pen. Horace having to quickly exit, covered in mud, with Druda's angry sow, Matilda, not far behind him. But now, all (Y/n) did was ensure that the quickly growing hair, were shaved from her skin; and now felt like as good a time as any to do it. The dwarf in hobbit's clothing pulling a dagger from her belt, before splashing some water on her face......

"What ya doin, lass............?" The urgent voice suddenly came, causing her to drop her dagger and reach for the sword by her side.

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Balin couldn't sleep. He had found it to be one of the perils of his advancing years; that he would sleep soundly for a couple of hours, and then wake, his mind allowed to drift into his memories of better times. But since meeting the dwarrowdam at Bag End, his thoughts had been on her.

He, just like the others, found it hard to believe that any dwarf mother would abandon their child like that. That they would leave their little one alone, with nothing, as Gandalf claimed (Y/n) had been. Usually, dwarrowdams were the fiercest of mothers; it easier to fight an angry bear than a female dwarf when it came to her bairns. So, Balin could only presume that something dire must have happened to her real parents, for her to end up where she did. The elder dwarf wondering if they had once perhaps called the Mountain home. Balin trying to think of whom she reminded him.

It was true to say that she was striking. It was known that dwarven women looked so much like their menfolk, that it was difficult to tell them apart; but (Y/n)'s features were far more delicate than other dwarrowdams. And even though she did have the makings of a beard, it was not as full and lush as female dwarves usually trained their beards to be. In fact, many things about her, made Balin wonder; not that he was about to ask her about any of it, for given how she had reacted when Thorin had made mention of her true parentage, the elderly dwarf had decided that discretion was best. That, and he had no desire to be called an orc faced pig's arse, like Thorin.

Slowly, he pushed himself up onto his elbows, pleased to find that the rest of the Company was asleep. Yet he did see some movement, his brows furrowing as he noticed (Y/n) quickly, but quietly, making her way from the campsite; sneaking passed Nori who was supposed to be on watch. Balin getting to his feet and making his way over to the second of the Ri brothers; his brows furrowing as Nori looked at him then let out a snore.

"What?! What......?! I'm awake.......what did I miss.......?" Nori jumped, as Balin smacked him around the back of the head. Nori sheepishly looking at his feet as he saw the look in the pale haired dwarf's eyes; knowing full well that he had been caught sleeping on watch.

"I'll be dealin with you later lad......but fa now.........." Balin said, before turning and making his way from the camp. Nori just taking a seat back on the rock; left to contemplate what would be said, when Thorin found out.

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Balin slowly made his way down to the river, it seeming the most logical place that the young female would go; he only able to imagine what it was like for her going from living with only her neat and clean brother, to being in the presence of a bunch of........well, often smelly male dwarves. A small smile coming to his lips, as he saw her sat on the bank, her sword and boots to her side. His eyes growing wide and his smile quickly fading, as he suddenly saw the glint of a small blade, before (Y/n) moved it to her throat.

"What ya doin, lass.......?" Balin blurted out. Not able to believe his eyes as within and instant (Y/n) had grabbed her sword and was stood in front of him. The tip of her silvery blade pointed at his neck.