Chapter One: Welcome To Erebor

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Erebor,Spring, 2765


  Years had passed, Nattie had arrived in the Great Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor.  However, things had not been going well for Nattie as she thought once she arrived there.  She had used up all her money during her travels, and now she is flat broke.   She tried finding jobs in the Kingdom, but unfortunately, there was no jobs available at the time, and two, she was declined because of her mixed bred heritage.    Now she was left with no other choice but to take up thieving.  She hated to do it, but she had to.  She had set out on several thieving jobs on her own, and most them ended successfully as she didn't get caught.  It was one night, she met a group of dwarven rogues in a pub, and the leader of them approaches Nattie.  "Excuse me? Miss! I hear you have quite great skill in stealth! I was wondering if you like to join our little group? And by the way, the name is Nori! Nori, at your service!" said the brown haired dwarf with a bow.  "My name is Nattie, Nattie Firebeard. And yes, I like to join your group!" said Nattie, without knowing what this group is about. 

 "Good! Because tonight! This very night, ladies and germs! We got a huge job to do! Word has been spread a very special bright jewel has been found beneath the Lonely Mountain! It's now in the care of our Good King Thror!  And tonight will be the perfect night, to take that stone in our hands!" Nori announces to the group.  "You cannot be serious, Nori! Have you lost your mind?!  You're taking a huge risk here!" protested Nattie, as her eyes widened.  How did I talk myself into this mess? thought Nattie.  "Nattie, Nattie, Nattie! Why do you have to be so naive? If you plan it right, we can get this jewel without any further incident! Trust me! And in fact, you have quiet feet, you shall be joining me and Lars here to go take it!" said Nori.  "No! No, no, no! Not a chance in hell, buster! I am not going to do this!!" shouted Nattie.  "Well, I guess you'll be remaining homeless for the rest of your pathetic little life, HALF BREED!" snarled Nori, as the rest of the group softly chuckled. 

 "Well what it's in for me? I'm not going to do this for nothing, ye know!" said Nattie.   "I will gladly pay you one thousand coins, and possibly get you a place to live, if you follow through this plan!" offered Nori.  "Alright then, that's a deal!" said Nattie, and she shook Nori's hand.  "Mattie, you will meet us at the Front Gate past midnight tonight!" said Nori.  "The name is Nattie, Nori, not 'Mattie'!" Nattie corrected the dwarf.  "Well, meet us at the front gate past midnight!" said Nori.  "I sure will, Nori!" said Nattie.   After the group had left, Nattie sat down and buried her head in her hands.  Nattie, you really got yourself in a real mess now! A real bloody mess for sure!  thought Nattie.  

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 Later, just before eleven thirty at night, Nattie had left her spot where she had been sleeping for the past few nights, and she marched up into the Mountain, and towards the Front Gate, where she would meet Nori and the rest of his group.  "Ah! There yer are, lass! I am glad you're here! Now we can begin this job! There is a hidden way just a few yards from here, that we can tunnel through! Follow me!" said Nori.  And so Nattie followed the rest of the group down into a hidden tunnel that led them into the Mountain.  Once they entered the Mountain, Nori turned the group.  "The Treasury is this way my friends! Follow me!" said Nori, and he lead the group down the long corridor, as they headed towards the Treasury.  "Good.  Now Miss Nattie, this is where we're going to need you! See that large jewel on top of the gold! Take it and bring it to us!" said Nori.  "Do I have to do this? Can't you get someone else?" said Nattie.  Suddenly Nori laughed.  "I knew she's no true dwarf! She can't even be a great thief! She's a chicken shit!" cackled Nori.  "You just shut the hell up, your worthless piece of good for nothing.." began Nattie loudly, when suddenly one of the dwarves shushed them. "Somebody is coming! Everyone hide!" exclaimed one of the dwarves.  

  And so everyone hide behind a large pillar crevice, and Nattie joined them.  They watched a group of Royal looking dwarves marched by them.  "Are they gone yet?" asked one of the Dwarves.  "Not yet! Just give them a few minutes, and we're all clear.  Are you ready, Nattie?" asked Nori.  "I guess I'm ready, I suppose." grumbled Nattie.   How in the hell did I get talked into this mess? I'm going to get in serious trouble here!  thought Nattie, frantically. "Alright, Nattie! Go! Make it quick before someone comes back!" Nori demanded to Nattie.  And so Nattie sprinted out of her hiding spot, and she carefully entered the room, and she marched towards to where the Arkenstone is kept, and she grabbed it.  "Got it! Now make a dash back to the others!" Nattie said softly to herself aloud, and as she was just about to leave the room,  two dwarves dressed in fine clothing entered.  Oh shit! I've been caught!! Nattie thought, as she was about to panic.   "THIEF! THIEF! GUARDS!" shouted the first dwarf with brown hair and a mowhawk on top of his bald head.  

  Suddenly, it didn't take long for several guards to enter the room.  "Hand it over, thief!" demanded the same said dwarf.  "I'm so sorry, I really am! I didn't want to do this really!" cried out Nattie.  "Save your words to the King! Guards, take this woman to the dungeons!" barked the dwarf.  Suddenly the guards grabbed her, and the dragged her to the dungeons, with Nattie weeping as they left.  And as they walked passed Nori and his friends, she could hear them laughing at her! LAUGHING! Which that angered her tremendously.  She not only had been taken advantage of, she had been tricked into doing this, and they got her in trouble, very deep trouble.   It didn't take long as they reached the dungeons, and the guards tossed her into the cell, locking the door and left.  Nattie sat down on teh floor, as she began to weep quietly.  An hour later, a guard came down and unlocked the door. "His Royal Majesty the King, wishes to speak to you! You're coming with me!" said the guard firmly.  Nattie stood up as she nervously walked towards the guard. 

 And so the guard lead her out of the dungeons, and they made their way towards the Throne Room of the Dwarven Kingdom.   Once they entered,  Nattie could see King Thror sitting at his Throne, dressed in his golden armor and golden raven crown.  Standing on his right side, are his Grandsons, Thorin, and Frerin. Nattie gasped as Thorin had caught her attention---she had never looked upon anyone who appeared that handsome, and his icy blue eyes intimidated her.  "Come Forth, thief!" spoke up King Thror, darkly.  Nattie, very nervously stepped forward, and she looked at the Dwarf King straight into the eyes.  "Tell me woman, what is the motive behind taking the most precious and valuable jewel of the Kingdom? Tell me the truth, because I will NOT TOLERATE liars." demanded the Dwarf King.  "Your Majesty, to be fairly honest, I've been set up to do this, you see I've just arrived here days ago, with no money or means to survive or even get a home.  And I also confess that I've been stealing food and gold coins from the vendors in town! But I swear to you, your Highness, I really didn't want to take the Arkenstone! I was forced into taking it!" said Nattie. 

 "Okay, since I hear your plea, I wish to know who these people are that had put you up to this?" said King Thror.  "A Dwarf named Nori, Your Majesty, and his friends!" Nattie replied.  "NORI! I swear I will ring his filthy little neck!!" boomed Thorin, angrily.   "That will be enough Thorin! I will take care of this!" King Thror snapped at his grandson, and then he turned his attention back to Nattie. "Guards, track down Nori and his group of rogues--apparently our master thief strikes again!" The Dwarf King instructed the guards, and the guards left.  "What about me, your Majesty?" spoke up Nattie.  The Dwarf King sighed.  "My dear lass, I pity you for what you've gone through, unfortunately however I have to punish you for your petty stealing in town! However, I came up with a plan for you to pay off the vendors! You shall become our housemaid and assistant to my Grandsons here, and a Nanny to my youngest granddaughter, Dis!" said King Thror.  "Oh, thank you Your Majesty! Thank you!" beamed Nattie.  

 "I am sorry, but I didn't catch your name! What is your name, my dear lass?" asked the Dwarf King. "Nathaniela Firebeard."  Nattie replied.    


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