The Dwarf and The Elf

The Meeting At The Shire

I got up from my spot by the door and opened it, there stood Thorin.

"Caerabeth." He said. As he entered Bag-end.

"Gandalf. 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." Thorin said.

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

"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company,  Thorin Oakenshield." Gandalf said.

"So this is the hobbit. Tell me Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?" Thorin asked.

"Pardon me?" Bilbo asked.

"Axe or sword? What is your weapon of choice?" Thorin asked.

"Well, I have some skill at conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant." Bilbo said.

"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." Thorin said.

The dwarves all laugh as they walk back into the dining table.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the plate I had set aside and a mug of ale.

I placed the plate and mug in front of Thorin.

"Thank-you Caerabeth." He said.

"Welcome. But please call me Beth." I said taking a seat by Kili.

As Thorin ate the others talked.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked.

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin said. Making the dwarves murmur their joy.

"What do they dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked.

"They will not come. They say this quest is ours, and ours alone." Thorin said.

"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo asked.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf said.

Bilbo brought a candle to the table, where Gandalf has spread out a map which was in his pocket.

"Far to the east, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." Gandalf said.

"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo said reading the map.

"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time." Glóin said.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold.  When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." Oin said.

"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo asked looking concerned.

"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals--" Bofur said.

"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo said interrupting him.

"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the dwarfish iron right up his jacksie." Ori jumped up and said.

"Sit down!" Dori said.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest." Balin said.

"What did he say?" Oin said.

"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" Fili said.