The Sorceress and the Hobbit- Book 2

The Beginning of The Company

She had traveled nonstop for 24 straight hours, her horse built to run such speeds. The shire came into view just as night fell. She had a bit to travel before she reached where the sign was drawn. She slowed her horse to a slow saunter, allowing the beast to breath freely. All the hobbits she knew resided in these hills had retreated to bed or were at the bar. She followed the trail, seeking one hobbit hole in particular. She found it, and dismounted her horse and tied it to the fence. She opened the small gate and approached the door. She heard voices inside as she knocked.

She heard one voice in particular, “I thought you said this was all the dwarves!” the door opened to reveal a young, ginger hobbit who looked up at her with wide eyes.

She slowly bowed her head, “Greetings master hobbit,” she said kindly.

The hobbit seemed at a loss for words. A flash of grey caught her attention and she saw Gandalf, bent over to fit inside, make his way to the door.

“Ah Luriel, I am so glad you could make it,” he said cheerfully.

“I came as soon as I could, I only hope I am not too late.” She said.

“Nonsense, do come in,” he said.

Luriel did not move, turning her attention back to the hobbit, “And who is this?” she asked before bowing down so she fit through the door. She managed to stand once she was inside, but had to watch out for a chandelier that hung in front of her.

“This is Bilbo Baggins,” Gandalf said, we are meeting in the dining room,” he said disappearing into said room.

Luriel walked into the doorway and stopped there as there was no room for her, she saw a group of dwarves staring at her, she counted thirteen. Her attention was caught by the one sitting in front of her. He had black hair and a black beard. He seemed displeased with her arrival, as his dark eyes traveled up and down her body.

He turned and leaned to Gandalf who had settled in a chair next to the dwarf, he spoke quietly but loud enough for those around him to hear, “You did not tell me the one you said who could take down smaug was an elf,” he said the word elf with anger and disgust.

“You must be Thorin Oakenshield, you sound a lot like your grandfather,” she said, she looked more amused then angered. Thorin turned towards her, “I assure you I am no elf, I simply bear a likeness to them.”

He did not seem convinced and turned back to the group.

A dwarf who was partially bald with tattoos spoke to Thorin.

“What do the dwarves of the iron hills say?” he asked in a gruff voice.

“They say this quest is ours, and ours alone.” Thorin replied, sounding annoyed.
Murmurs of disappointment filled the room

The young hobbit made his way around her, murmuring a soft “Excuse me,” as he went. He stopped next to Thorin, looking around at the dwarves, perplexity and interest on his face, “You’re going on a quest?”
Gandalf took this opportunity to pull something from inside his robe “Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light.” he politely inquired.

The hobbit quickly went and grabbed a candle and brought it towards the table illuminating a map that Gandalf had spread out.

“Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak.” he began.
Bilbo tilted his head slightly as he looked over Thorin’s shoulder at the map and read aloud “The Lonely Mountain.”
“Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time.” one of the dwarves pipped in.
“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.” the dwarf she now knew as Oin now spoke from memory.
Bilbo looked up, concern planted on his face “Uh, What beast?”
“Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our
age. Airborne fire­breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals­ ” one of the dwarves spoke, leaning forward as he spoke.
[“Yes, I know what a dragon is.” the hobbit sounded a bit annoyed.
Ori side of stood, and with a voice of bravery exclaimed, “I’m not afraid! I’m up for it. I’ll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie.” the response was a few shouts around the table.
The dwarf next to Ori grabbed his arm and pulled him back down “Sit down!” he hissed quietly.
“The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest.” an older looking dwarf spoke up.
He was met with offended protests, though one dwarf held up a trumpet to his ear, “What did he say?” he inquired.
A young dwarf, resembling Thorin a bit stood. “We may be few in number, but we’re fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!” he said encouragingly.
“And you forget,” a slightly older dwarf next to him spoke, “We have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons!”

Gandalf raised his pip to his mouth, muttering nearly incoherently “Oh, well, now, uh, I-­I-­I wouldn’t say that, I­-”
“How many, then?” a dwarf yelled.
“Uh, what?” Gandalf feigned not hearing the question.
“Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!” the same dwarf pressed.
“Hm.” Gandalf embarrassedly starts coughing on his pipe smoke; the dwarves jump to their feet, arguing about the
number of dragons Gandalf has killed. Luriel sighed and rolled her eyes, she leaned against the doorway and watched as the dwarves fought.

Thorin suddenly stood “Shazara!” he shouted over the slew of voices. Silence fell over the dwarves as they slowly settled back into their seats, “If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too?” he continued, “Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been
seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully
ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr!” the dwarves began cheering, “Du Bekâr!” Thorin repeated.

“You forget,” the oldest dwarf spoke over the cheers, silencing them, “the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain.”
“That, my dear Balin,” Gandalf spokr, “Is not entirely true.” twiddling his fingers, Gandalf produced a dwarvish key, ornately wrought in a rusty metal. Luriel leaned forward in order to see it before returning back to her previous state.

Thorin looks at it in wonder. “How came you by this?” he whispered.
“It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping.” the old wizard explained, slowly extending it to Thorin, “It is yours now.”

Thorin accepted it, holding it with awe.
“If there is a key, there must be a door.” one of the dwarves said.
“Of course there is a door,” Luriel finally spoke up, startling some of the dwarves as they had forgotten she was there, “The question is where is the door,” she clarified
Gandalf pointed to the map, “These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls.”
“There’s another way in!” the youngest dwarf exclaimed.
“Well, if we can find it, but dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle­ earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done.”

Luriel, seeing no further need to stand there, went to the door and slipped outside. She deduced the plan Gandalf had in mind, based on the choice of meeting location. He planned to use the hobbit to sneak into Erebor, for what she knew not. But she figured she would soon learn. She saw a bench next to the hill and sat in it, looking up at the moon, a snort brought her attention down to in front of her. Her horse stood, still tied to the fence, looking at her, her ears pricked forward.

“It looks like I am merely a backup, in case Gandalf’s plan fails,” she explained to the horse. To anyone watching it would seem strange to watch her talk to a horse, but they had a great bond, and understood each other. “Can't complain, at least not yet anyway, we will simply have to wait and see where the road takes us, eh old friend?” the horse blinked slowly in response, giving her another softer snort. Luriel smiled and turned her attention back to the night sky.