An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Six: More Questions than Answers

Thalia thanked Bilbo quietly as he handed her a blanket for the night and wrapped it around herself, she had refused the bed that he had offered her since she doubted she’d truly get much sleep that night; it was to be the first of many away from her world and she was unsure that she would ever be used to that.

Thalia glanced around as she looked at the dwarves that were all settling down to sleep for the night; they had spent the evening discussing the plans for the next day and they were all now preparing to go to sleep for a while.

Thalia carefully got to her feet and headed out of the dining room, she glanced behind her making sure that she hadn’t disturbed anyone as she headed for the front door; she knew they’d all need their rest but she just wasn’t tired yet.

Thalia didn’t noticed the curious eyes of the dwarf leader watching her as she silently stepped outside of the hobbit door, she closed the door behind her; Thalia took a deep breath before she moved to sit on the small bench in the garden.

Thalia was dressed in her red check pyjamas that had been in the bag that Gandalf had given her as she looked up at the night sky.

It was so different from the sky that she was used to seeing and it worried her that there would be a lot of differences that she was going to have to get used to now.

“It must be strange for you to be here,” Thorin said approaching Thalia, she jumped surprised as she looked at him having not realised that he was following her; she watched him for a moment wondering why he had followed her before she nodded her head to his question.

Thorin watched her for a moment before he sat down next to her, he looked up at the sky as a million questions circled his mind; he had always been curious about the other worlds but he didn’t want to upset her by asking about her world.

“It’s weird even the sky is so different to the one that I know,” Thalia said softly staring up at the starry sky, she swallowed wondering if anyone had noticed that she was missing yet.

Thalia had been gone a day now and she knew that she’d missed her shift at work and her boss was going to be far from pleased.

Thorin looked at Thalia as she took a deep breath, she looked nothing like the women of the world of men that he knew nor did she seem to fit into the realms of elves or dwarves; times must be different where she was from since she had beautiful sun kissed skin but she didn’t seem worn from working in the fields or as a maid of any sort.

There was also a mysterious air of magic that lingered around Thalia just as it did with Gandalf and the other four wizards of Istari; Thorin couldn’t ignore that there was something powerful that seemed to radiate from Thalia even if she didn’t seem aware of it.

***

“Why her?” Thorin asked approaching Gandalf after Thalia had gone to sleep, he didn’t look at Thalia as he stared at the wizard wanting answer. Thorin didn’t know why she had been chosen for this question but he had a feeling that the wizard was hiding something from them.

Gandalf puffed on his pipe as he looked at the dwarf, he watched him for a moment or two as he thought of his reasons for bring Thalia here; there was so many reason and yet there were none since he had never chosen her himself.

“Because Valar choose her… she is important to this quest Thorin,” Gandalf said looking over at the sleeping witch, he watched her knowing that while he hadn’t chosen her directly that he had been preparing for her arrival since he convinced Thorin to retake the mountain kingdom of Erebor months ago.

Thorin stared at him, he didn’t know why the Gods would choose someone like Thalia they never got involved with things unless they needed to and now to break apart the divide between worlds for this seemed wrong.

“Aye but is it a wise idea… you know the rules Gandalf, the realms must never cross and yet you have pulled her from one to another,” Balin said looking at his king and the wizard that had been talking quietly, he had done a lot of reading in the past about the realms and he didn’t want to upset the balance of the worlds for anything even if it did help him reclaim their home.

Thorin looked at his old friend, he knew where this was going and Balin wouldn’t be talking about this if there wasn’t reason to be concerned; in all of the years that he had known him, there had never been anything that worried his friend like this.

“Trust me master dwarf, it is imperative that Thalia be here… she is the one that will change the course of fate and the one that will aid you reclaim lonely mountain,” Gandalf said watching the two dwarves knowing that everything was going to work out even if they didn’t trust him.

Gandalf didn’t blame Thalia for being upset especially since she was right, he had planned all of this from the beginning even if he did have a little push from someone above.

***

Thalia groaned as she was shaken awake, she grumbled confused before coming face to face with Kíli who offered her a small smile; she furrowed her brow as what had happened the day before came flooding back to her.

“Sorry to wake you Thalia Graceful Hunter but we have to be leaving,” Kíli said gently while his older brother moved around waking other members of the company.

Thalia nodded her head as she ran her fingers through her hair, she had already decided that she was going to wear her grey lace patterned top and slim jeans paired with classic black trainers.

“Kíli you can just call me Thalia,” Thalia said, she wasn’t used to having both her full name used but she guessed that was just the way things were in Middle Earth; the young dwarf prince smiled at her and nodded his head before he hurried away to help his brother.

Thalia took a deep breath before she climbed out of her make shift bed and left the room, heading into the storage room so that she could change out of her sleepwear and into her clothes for the start of the trip.

Thalia was quiet as she dressed slowly, she thought about what she was going to do now; she was going on a quest with fifteen men and she knew that it would probably look odd to anyone.

Stuffing her pyjamas into the bag, Thalia quickly closed it and put it onto her shoulder before she heading back into the main room; she ignored some of the curious looks that the dwarves gave her since she could care less what they thought of her dress sense.

“Ahh Thalia Graceful Hunter, are you ready to go on an adventure,” Gandalf said making the witch at him, she didn’t trust him for anything and she couldn’t help but think about what he wanted.

Gandalf was going to make everything all the more difficult and Thalia couldn’t help but worry at what cost had he had stolen her from her world to this one.

Gandalf sighed watching her pass him, he was determined to learn more about Thalia and find out why she was the one that had arrived.