On The Road With a Company of Dwraves, A Hobbit, And A Wizard

Desolation

Author here! This is the start of the next book and I want to disclaim all the characters but Rosaria. That's all for now, so ON WITH THE STORY!!!!

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It is nighttime; rain falls heavily upon a small, dirty-looking town. Bree, a small town that borders the lands of the Shire. A figure wearing a pack and a raincoat walks through the streets. A disheveled-looking man with his hood down walks across the street, eating a carrot. The figure with the pack is considerably shorter than the other people on the street. The figure walks up to a building and pauses, inspecting the sign hung above the door. It says, "The Prancing Pony." The figure, which is Thorin, looks about, then enters the tavern. As he walks through, the bartender hands a drink to a man. "There you are." He states in a gruff voice. There is much raucous talk and laughter throughout the busy tavern. A black cat perches on a counter. A waitress threads through the crowd at the pub carrying a mug and a platter of cheese and bread. Drunk and unruly customers get in her way, and she moves around them.

The waitress calls in the crowd "Watch it!" She makes her way to Thorin's table and sets down the mug and platter. "Here you are." She says with a small smile.

"Thank you." Thorin thanks her and puts down his pipe, which he had been smoking. He tears apart his bread and begins to eat it. As he eats, he looks around at all the activities going on in the pub. Sensing something, he looks to the right and sees a bald, suspicious-looking man watching him. He looks to his left and sees another shady character watching him. Thorin puts his bread back on his plate and, as the two men stand up and move toward him, slowly wraps his hand around the handle of his sword, which is strapped to his pack next to him. Suddenly, a figure appears at the table in front of him. It is Gandalf, and he sits across from Thorin.

"Mind if I join you?" The wizard asked the dwarf. They both shared a look. As the waitress passes by, Gandalf catches her sleeve. "I'll have the same." He told her, and she gave him a simple smile. The young waitress walked away with a promise of food when she returns. The suspicious men back away as Gandalf begins to speak to Thorin. The wizard looked around then back at the dwarf. Thorin was giving him a distrustful glare.  Gandalf starts to introduce himself "I should introduce myself. My name is Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey."

"I know who you are." Thorin states gruffly.

"Well now! This is a fine chance. What brings Thorin Oakenshield to Bree?" The grey wizard questions the young dwarf. Gandalf looks around and sees a hooded figure in the corner of the tavern. He nods slowly to the figure and said figure gives a gentle wave.

"I received word that my father had been seen wandering the Wilds near Dunland. I went looking, and found no sign of him." He stated. Thorin slowly looked around to keep an eye on those in the tavern.

"Thorin, it's been a long time since anything but rumor was heard of Thrain." The old wizard said while looking back towards the dwarf.

"He still lives; I am sure of it." He stated while being very sure of himself. Gandalf looked at the young prince with worry. It has been long since the old king has been seen and rumors are just that, rumors. To go to such lengths to find someone who doesn't want to be found. Gandalf looks up as the waitress sets his platter of food in front of him. He continued with "My father came to see you before he went missing. What did you say to him?"

"I urged him to march upon Erebor; to rally the seven armies of the dwarves, to destroy the dragon and take back the Lonely Mountain. And I would say the same to you. Take back your homeland." Gandalf told the prince while he started to eat the food that he was given. Thorin picks up his mug and drinks contemplatively.