Bilbo brings a candle to the table, where Gandalf has spread out a map which had been carefully folded 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" Gloin said, "Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time"
"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold" Oin added, everyone looking at him "when the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end."
"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo asked, looking concerned
"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible" Ryneela said, looking at the Hobbit
"Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age" Bofur added "airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals--"
"Yes, I know what a dragon is" Bilbo replied
"I’m not afraid!" Ori declared, standing up from his seat "I’m up for it. I’ll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!" causing several dwarves to shout in agreement
"Sit down!" Dori demanded, pulling him back in his chair
"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us" Balin said, causing everyone to grow quiet "but we number just fourteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest" purposely leaving Ryneela out on the last part of the statement, causing the dwarves to start objecting
"What did he say?" Oin asked, putting his hearing trumpet in his ear
"We may be few in number, but we’re fighters" Fili said "all of us, to the last dwarf! And woman!" causing Ryneela to smile slightly, giving him a nod in appreciation
"And you forget, we have a wizard in our company" Kili added "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time"
"Oh, well. . . " Gandalf began, taken aback by the statement "now, uh, I-I-I wouldn’t say that, I - "
"How many, then?" Dori asked
"Uh, what?" He asked
"Well, how many dragons have you killed?" He demanded "go on, give us a number!"
Gandalf embarrassedly starts coughing on his pipe smoke, the dwarves jump to their feet, arguing about the number of dragons Gandalf has killed, Ryneela moving from her spot on the table, looking at them,
"Shazara!" Thorin bellowed, jumping up from his seat, the dwarves going silent "it we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too?"
"Rumours have begun to spread" Ryneela added, "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" Thorin continued "do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!" causing the dwarves to cheer
"You forget: the front gate is sealed" Balin said, causing the mood to dampen "there is no way into the mountain"
"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true" Gandalf said
Twiddling his fingers slightly, Gandalf produces a dwarvish key, ornately wrought, causing Thorin to look at it in wonder,
"How came you by this?" Thorin asked
YOU ARE READING
Walking In Starlight
FanfictionRyneela Evantree, a well known Sorceress and Healer of Middle Earth, is the youngest of the Evantree Clan, her nine older brothers are scattered around doing their best to help others in need, but they are also very protective of her ever since she...
