An Expected Travel: A Traveler's Tale

A Proper Burglar

Gandalf opened the front door for him.

My sister mimed playing a trumpet, myself behind her doing the same.

"Gandalf." Thorin greeted. "Apprentices." Darcy and I beamed like idiots. "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."

"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!" Bilbo argued.

"There is a mark; I put it there myself." Gandalf admitted with no shame.

"Oopsie." I shrugged. Darcy chuckled as we moved upright.

Gandalf smiled kindly at us. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin gave Bilbo a look over. "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?" Thorin asked.

Bilbo puffed his chest. Thorin walked around Bilbo, continuing to size him up. "Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."

"Thought as much." Thorin scoffed. He stood in front of Bilbo again. "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." He remarked to the Dwarves, who all laughed at the insult.

The Dwarves all walked back towards the dining table. Darcy happily followed after. Gandalf and I stayed back with Bilbo.

"That was rude of him." I remarked.

Bilbo huffed. He fiddled with the cuffs of his sleeves. "Yes. It was." He glared over his shoulder at Gandalf.

==AET==

Sometime later, Thorin had gotten his food. I met with Bilbo in the kitchen. In my hands was a bowl, and a dirtied washcloth.

Bilbo was running a hand over his face. He was looking again at his emptied banchory.

"Hello Mr Baggins!" I cheered, lowering the dish into the sink to clean.

The Hobbit merely glanced at me, before schooling his features to something less tired. "Oh. Hello again, Morgan."

"I fixed it." I informed him, showing him the bowl.

"Fixed...what?" Bilbo asked, eyes wide in panic. "Oh dear, what's broken now?"

"Nothing- I just fixed the door." I corrected. Bilbo stared at me, stretching out his fingers to get a better look at my face. "You- you just sounded so upset...when you found out Gandalf painted on it. So I thought...I should fix it."

Bilbo lowered his hand. "Well then, my thanks."

My smile beamed at the Hobbit.

In the other room, there was a sudden dull roar of unhappy groans.

Exchanging a look with Bilbo, the two of us walked over to the dining room. The Dwarves were all shaking their head, annoyed. Darcy however was flipping between excited and upset. My guess was she was trying to be disappointed at the news, but being at the side of Thorin Oakenshield was too awesome to be sad.

"They say this quest is ours, and ours alone." Thorin added to their further annoyance.

"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo stated, much to the surprise of the Dwarves who hadn't noticed him approach.

"I love a quest!" Came my happy cheer. "

Gandalf turned his face to us. "Bilbo, Morgan, my dear fellows, let us have a little more light."