Burning flames/ Legolas love story/ 1

Meeting

A hooded traveler walked on the path that lead towards the Shire. Hobbits around the traveler whispered about an old legend. The traveler eventually came to a stop before a small round door with a specific marking on it. Three knocks on the door and a voice asked from inside: "Who is it?"

"Fool, she cannot answer you. Hurry! Open the door!" a familiar male voice spoke. Why was I summoned here? Then the round door opened and a small hobbit with caramel-colored curls opened it. The hobbit was a bit startled by the black helmet, which covered the traveler's face, and burning stare.

The adventurer bowed before the hobbit and he answered with the same. The hobbit stepped away from her path and she entered the small homely hole in the ground.

"Lacheana, my dear friend, it is good to see your grim face again." Gandalf said, smiling. Likewise, old friend. Lacheana took off her helmet and revealed a fair but very serious and still face, with fiery red eyes, black lips, pointy ears and long black braid, which seemed to smolder. Her whole armor seemed to be in flames, which moved like a real fire would. She put her helmet under her arm and looked around, her eyes finally landing on a dark haired dwarf, who was sitting behind a table, eating. Lacheana approached him and knelt on one knee in front of the dwarf. With that she showed respect towards the rightful king under the mountain, Thorin Oakenshield.

"No need for that, my lady." Thorin said. His voice seemed to despise the fact that the one he called 'my lady' was an elf. Lacheana rose from in front of Thorin and looked around walking over to the darkest corner and stopping there. She stayed standing and observed everything that was going on in the room, her facial expressions not changing once. The corner was now lighter because of Lacheana's armor's glow.

The dwarves, who had witnessed the whole encounter quietly, now turned their attention back to their king and one of the older one, who had white hair, asked: "What news from meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"

"Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms." Thorin answered with a low smooth voice. "What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" the white-haired dwarf asked again. "They will not come." Thorin said, which caused all of the dwarves look disappointed.

"They say this quest is ours, and ours alone." Thorin continued looking at every single one of the dwarves, who sat around the table. "You are going on a quest?" the hobbit asked from behind Gandalf. "Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Gandalf said smiling to the small hobbit.

While Bilbo brought a candlestick, Gandalf laid out a map on the table and motioned for Lacheana to come closer. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." Gandalf explained.

"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo read off the map. Lacheana's red eyes stayed fixed on the drawing of a dragon on the map. So, that's why I'm here. Lacheana gave Gandalf a nod for good luck before walking out the door. She found an uncomfortably small bench near the gate and put her helmet on that. She then looked up at the stars.

The stars reminded her of the night, oh so long ago, when her voice was taken from her and she was left in this cruel world alone, without her family. She lived here and there and spent most of her years alone. She had fought side by side with great kings and fearless warriors, but most of them came and went as years passed. And then her mind reached the moment when she was given the power of fire. She was saved from her mind by some powerful words spoken that came from inside the little hobbit house. Lacheana grabbed her helmet and rushed in.

"Give him the contract." were the first words she heard after she entered. "Please." Bilbo pleaded. A paper was handed to him and the white haired dwarf said: "It's just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth."