Erebor's Guardian

Chapter 4

After a week I decided to wait on the outskirts of the Shire. Late into the night, Thorin had finally arrived from the meeting. He had looked beaten.

"They will not come."

"I am so sorry Thorin, I would have thought that Dain would have joined us. But I can see the concern he has."

Thorin and I began to walk toward The Shire. Somehow Thorin got us lost. Twice. Thorin eventually let me guide the way to a small Hobbit-hole with a blue mark on the door. Thorin knocked on the door with a loud thud. Gandalf opened the door.

"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. We lost our way, twice, wouldn't have found it at all. If not for the mark on the door." Thorin stepped through as I followed behind him, I rolled my eyes at him sayng we both were lost. I smiled to see the others as they bowed their heads. I smiled at the sign of Thorin smiling to Kili and Fili

"Mark! There is no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago." A hobbit walked past Dwalin and walked in front of me.

"There is a mark. I put it there myself." Gandalf said as he turned to the hobbit.

"Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakinsheild."

"Um..."

"Oh and Paephan his guard."I bowed my head to the Hobbit I had now learned was named Bilbo.

"So...this is the Hobbit, Tell me Mr Baggins have you done much fighting."

"Pardon me?"

"Axe or sword, what's your weapon of choice"

"Well I do have some skill at conquers but I fail to see why that is relevant."

"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." The others laughed as they looked to walk into the dining room.

"Sorry about that Bilbo he has not had the best time of late." I walked past Gandalf and hung up my cloak. In the dining room, I decided to lean on the wall as the others sat.

Thorin had told the others of Dain not agreeing to join us. They were disheartened by the news. Gandalf pulled out a map of The Lonely Mountain. The others spoke of the portents saying that it was time to return to Erebor. One of the dwarves mentioned Smaug.

"A beast?" Bilbo asked

"That would be the dragon Smaug."

Bilbo turned to me as I pulled out a small pipe.

"The path would have been dangerous with an army, now there is only the 13 of us, not 13 of the best nor brightest," Balin said as he turned to look at Thorin

"We may be few in number but we are fighters, each and every one of us."

Kili smacked the table as Kili smiled.

"And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time."

I laughed to myself at the statement. Soon the others stood arguing about how many dragons Gandalf had killed. Bilbo tried to have everyone calm down. Not an easy task with 13 dwarves

"Silence!"

The dwarves sat down at Thorin's order. He spoke of the rumours of the dragon's years in the mountain. Balin spoke of the front gate being blocked but Gandalf pulled out a key.

"How came you by this."

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safe keeping. It is your's now."

As Thorin took the key, I saw him look at it in wonder. Gandalf spoke of another way into the mountain claiming that he needed to reach someone who could read the runes on the map.

"The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage. But if we are careful and clever I believe it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar," Ori said

"Hm, a good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine."

"And are you?"

"Am I what."

I looked at Gandalf. Clearly, Bilbo had no burglar experience but more importantly, he had no idea of the quest before this meeting. As the others argued. Gandalf stood up speaking in his "powerful" voice. I merely watched as Thorin drank his ale.

"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."

Gandalf went back to his normal self. I decided it was time for me to speak.

"Gandalf is right. Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of the hobbit is all but unknown to him."

Gandalf smiled at me as I agreed with his choice.

"You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr.Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this."

Gandalf leaned to Thorin. Thorin sighed as he turned to me. I placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded.

"Very well. We will do it your way."

The others cheered as Balin handed him a contract and heard him stutter at the funeral expenses part. Bilbo stepped back to read the contract. Thorin leaned toward Gandalf

"I cannot guarantee his safety."

"Understood."

"Nor will I be responsible for his fate."

Gandalf was a silent for a moment.

"Agreed."

As Bilbo read the contract but the others were giving him doubt with all the dragon information. After reading it he fainted.

"Oh well done Bofur."

"I sat the hobbit up and carefully brought him to his armchair. I left Bilbo with Gandalf seeing as they had much to discuss. Thorin carefully took the pipe from me and placed the medicine in it.

"Are they acting up again."

"No, just taking precautions."

Balin walked up to us and sat down.

"It appears we have lost our burglar. Probably for the best. The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy-makers; hardly the stuff of legend."

"There are a few warriors amongst us."

Thorin smirked as he said this

"Old warriors."

"I would take each and every one of these dwarves over the armies of the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty. Honor. A willing heart. I can ask no more than that."

"You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honourably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor."

Thorin held up the key that Gandalf gave him, and in his eyes, I could see hope.

"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me."

I placed my hand on his shoulder and smiled as he looked up at me.

"He is right Balin. It's time for Smaug to pay for what he took from your kin."

Balin chuckled to himself and smiled

"Then we are with you. We will see it done."

The dwarves began to gather in the living room, smoking on their pipes. They all began to hum and soon Thorin started to sing and the others joined him. Gandalf and I listened nearby; Bilbo listened from his bedroom.