A Hobbit's Tale-Thorin's P.O.V.

3-The Burglar

After few minutes the girl & the hobbit came back, Anya placed a steaming bowl of fresh broth & a cup of ale. The smell of the broth was tempting, I smiled my thanks to her, she simply nodded her head. I saw her taking a small stool placing it besides Gandalf & sat down next to him while the hobbit sat on a shelf. I looked down at the broth, picked up the spoon to eat, it seems the girl somehow managed to scrap enough & it tasted good, so she can cook. Taking a sip of my ale I sneaked a peek at the girl, she was simply staring at something on her boots. She certainly seems confident but a part of me doubted of how would she handle herself in the wilderness & danger. As if she sensed of being watched she lifted her head but I quickly averted my eyes before she noticed.
Balin: "What news from the meeting in Erid Luin? Did they come?"
Thorin: "Aye, envoys from all 7 kingdoms shall join us."
Dwalin: "But what did the dwarfs of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain still with us?"
I put down my cup & looked around me, slowly shook my head.
Thorin: "They will not come. They say this quest is ours & ours alone."
Everyone's faces dropped in disappointment just as I expected. My cousin, Dain Ironfoot II, was much more ill-tempered, hotheaded & stubborn than I am. He was among those who considered this quest to be a fool's errand, despite my trying to convince him but I met deaf ears. We all flinched when the hobbit spoke for the first time in a while.
Bilbo: "So you're going on a quest then?"
I raised my eyebrow in question at Gandalf & I noticed that Anya was frowning, so the halfling does not know about our quest or the wizard failed to tell him?
Gandalf: "Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light."
Even Anya went with the hobbit to retrieve the candles, then Gandalf pulled out a map & spread it in front of me just as Anya & the hobbit returned with the candles.
Gandalf:(Pointing at the map)"Far to the East, over ranges & rivers, beyond woodlands & wastelands. Lies a single solitary peak."
Bilbo: "The Lonely Mountain."
He read standing over my one shoulder while Anya was at my other, her shoulder brushing against mine. My senses was being overclouded with the girl's lovely perfume, I looked up at her but she fidgeted & moved away from me. Smirking, so I turned my attention back to the map. It has been foretold when the birds of old return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end. As Gloin pointed to the fact that Oin had read its portents already.
Bilbo: "Uh...what beast?"
Bofur:(Smoking his pipe)"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible. The chiefest & greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks & extremely fond of precious metals."
Bilbo: "Yes, I know what a dragon is!"
I heard Anya sigh loudly & she rolled her eyes just as I momentarily glanced at her.
Ori:(Standing up)"I'm not afraid, I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of dwarfish iron right up his jacksie."
I raised my eyebrows at his enthusiastic spirit as the others shouted in encouragement. Dori pulled young Ori down back to his seat. Ah! The young ones these days, I remember my younger brother Frerin, was just like him.
Balin: "The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number 13 & not 13 of the best, nor the brightest."
Everyone went in a slight uproar while I remained silent & just observed.
Fili: "We may be few in numbers, but we are fighters, all of us! Down to the last dwarf!"
Slapping his hand on the table. I smiled slightly as I looked at Fili, at times he reminds me of his father, Vili. As for Kili, he took after his mother.
Kili:(Smiling)"And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf must have killed a 100s of dragons in his time."
Gandalf widened his eyes at this & Anya started to snicker or rather hiding her amusement. Then Gloin & Dori kept asking the wizard about how many dragons had he slayed? He began choking on his pipe as their uproar continued. Behind me both the hobbit & Anya stood up to calm them but none could hear them. This made me angry & I shot out of my chair. I saw the girl jump back, startled.
Thorin: "ENOUGH!"(They all became silent at once)"If we have read these signs don't you think the others read them as well? The dragon Smaug has not been seen for over 60 years. Eyes look to the East of the mountain, wondering, assessing & weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor, what say you all?"
Everyone agreed about this, I could feel Anya's eyes on me, staring at me in wonder. I smirked at this & sat down contented.
Balin: "You seem to forget that the front gate is sealed, there is no way into the mountain."
I winced at what Balin just said, by Durin he was right & I saw everyone looking crestfallen. The wizard leaned forward, smiling.
Gandalf: "That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true."
Out of his robes he pulled out an old dwarfish key, I recognized it at once. The girl leaned forward slightly for a glimpse.
Thorin: "How you came by this?"
Gandalf:(Handing me the key)"It was given to me by your father, Prince Thrain, for safekeeping, now its yours."
Fili: "If there is a key, then there must be a door."
Kili:(Smiling)"There must be another way in?"
Gandalf:(Nodding his head)"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls. If we could find it but the dwarf's door is invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in the map & I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-Earth who can."
The wizard shared a look with Anya beside him & she slightly nodded her head. I glared at the wizard knowing very well at what he was implying but how does the girl know?
Gandalf: "The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth & no small amount of courage. But if we are careful & clever, I believe that it can be done."
Ori: "That is why we need a burglar."
Everyone agreed on that & we all glanced at the hobbit standing behind my shoulder.

1134 words!