Gold and Sapphires

4

At nightfall Ethíniel cooked for both of them, carrots, potato and fish, Bilbo had poured two cups of wine and was already seated at the table, awaiting his maid, whom he considered his best friend his curly hair as always was a messy mop on his head and his brown eyes shinning with happiness. "I'll be travelling to Bree next week to buy more ink and scrolls." Ethíniel said as she sat down and Bilbo reached for some herbs, "Finished already?" The hobbit inquired astound at the fast rate his best friend wrote her memories, just as the princess was about to answer a hard knock on the door was heard leading to the two sharing a look, Bilbo slowly stood up and walked to the door while the blonde prayed to Valar that it wouldn't be the others that Gandalf had mentioned.

Bilbo opened his green door to reveal a slightly taller half bald man, he turned to Bilbo and said "Dwalin at your service." his gruff voice indicating that he wasn't to be messed around, Bilbo whimpered and and grabbed the ropes of his robe and tied them around his waist before saying "Bilbo Baggins, at yours." he started, the dwarf called Dwalin set foot in the house making the hobbit inquire "Do we know each other?" to which the authoritative dwarf answered with a firm "No." Dwalin walked deeper into the entrance of the house and took his fur cloak off asking "Which way, laddie? Is it down here?"

"Is what down where?" Bilbo retorted almost scared to hear the answer, "Supper. He said there'd be food and lots of it." the dwarf said before making his way to the kitchen where he came face to face with Ethíniel who looked at him with eyes like saucers while Bilbo muttered "He... He said? Who said?" Dwalin sat down in Bilbo's seat without asking and quickly muched down his dinner as the hobbit returned. When he tried to reach for the blonde woman's plate she was quick to pick up her knife and slam it just between his middle and ring finger with a fierce look on her face, "Touch my plate and the next time I move this knife it will fly between your eyes." she growled viciously, venom dripping from her tongue like honey, startling the owner of the house who had never seen her like this.

"Women are meant to be seen, not heard. Yer husband should tan yer hide for speaking like that." the dwarf said before looking at the hobbit while the princess laughed humourlessly before saying "I have no husband, I'm a house maid for Mr. Bilbo." shock coursed through the though dwarf as he moved his eyes back to the woman, even though he would never admit it out loud she was a bonnie lass and would most likely make a nice wife. "Very good, this. Any more?" he then asked allowing the blonde woman to get up and leave the room as she pressed a hand onto her heart for a moment, anger coursing through her like lava. "What?" Bilbo stuttered as he moved his head to look at the dwarf before continuing "Oh, yes, yes. Ah. Help yourself." he said grabbing a basket or rolls, grabbing one for himself before handing the rest to the dwarf. "It's just that, um, we weren't expecting company." Bilbo started just as the doorbell rang, "That'll be the door." the dwarf teased with a smirk.

Ethíniel walked to her bedroom changing from her work clothes to some more comfortable clothes,a soft green dress with long sleeves to cover her marks and a small cleavage that showed her well defined chest while Bilbo opened the door to reveal yet another dwarf much to his clear distaste, "Balin, at your service." The dwarf said bowing slightly, his white hair contrasting the dark night, "Good evening." Bilbo let out forcedly, "Yes. Yes, it is. Though I think it might rain later." Balin said looking up to the sky. "Am I late?" he inquired as he stepped into the house, "Late for what?" Bilbo asked.

Ethíniel rebraided her hair losely and tugged it over her shoulder before taking of her shoes just as the bell rang again, "Niel!" Bilbo called not wishing to go to the door, fearing that it would be more dwarves, "Yes Bilbo?" she asked walking out of her bedroom and walking to the hobbit who stood in front of the pantry, her presence attracted the attention of the dwarves who stared at her in awe, "The door please." the hobbit pleaded making her nod, her shoeless feet making no noise as she made her way to the door, she swung it open allowing her to come face to face with two dwarves, one blonde and the other brunette. The two stared at her for a split second before the blonde began "Fili." "And Kili." the brunette added  before the two finished "At your service." "Niel, Mr. Baggins house maid, how may I help you?" she asked politely, "House maid? Surely you must be his wife." Fili stated in shock while his brother simply said "You are far to beautiful to be a house maid."