All I've ever known

19

They were passing through Bree on their way back to Dis and the boys. Mivera was slightly annoyed,"Thorin it is cold, I am wet and starving. Why can't we go somewhere for the night?" Thorin didn't say anything and just continued to trudge along.

She let out an exasperated sigh,"Ugh. Fine, you know what? I'm just going to go find a place myself. Have fun catching hypothermia Thorin." She huffed and stomped away in the puddles.

She looked up at the sign of a building she walked by. It was full of music and laughter, the sign read, 'The Prancing Pony'. She smiled and took a step towards the door, only to have a hand hold tight to her shoulder.

She whipped around and threw the attacker to the ground. The man coughed and sputtered up the mud that had gone through his nose,"Mahal Mivera. What was that for?" She laughed,"I did not know it was you Thorin. My apologies." She reached out a hand and helped pull up Thorin.

She smiled at him and wiped the mud off his face with her hands,"There." She wiped off her hands on her hood and the two of them walked inside.

Mivera smiled as she felt the warm air touch her cold body. She pulled her hood down and walked to a table. She looked back to see Thorin talking to a waitress. The waitress nodded and walked away. Thorin scanned the crowd and saw her, weaving his way through the crowd of people and sat down across from her.

He pulled out a pipe and began to smoke it,"I ordered both of us bread and cheese." Mivera smiled,"Perfect." Not 5 minutes went by when the waitress came by and gave them their food. They both thanked her and began digging in.

Mivera took a sip of her ale,"Thorin, the two men on either side of us have been watching since we sat down. Thorin looked to the left and the right, seeing that you were correct. The two men stood at the same time. Mivera and Thorin slowly started reaching for their swords. But just as the two men were about to reach them, a man in grey sat on one side of them.

The two men saw him and walked away. The man smiled and stopped a waitress,"I'll have the same as them." The waitress nodded and left. The man turned to them,"I should probably introduce myself." Mivera held up her hand,"We know who you are." He smiled,"It is good chance I find you two hear." The waitress walked up and gave Gandalf his plate.

Thorin looked skeptical,"How so?" Gandalf looked at him sternly,"I am going to tell you the same thing I told your father. March on Erebor." Mivera laughed,"From a dragon? Have you lost your mind?" Gandalf continued,"If you don't do it others will." Thorin furrowed his brow,"Others?"

Gandalf pulled out a worn piece of parchment from his robes and spread it on the table. Mivera looked at the scrawling on the paper,"What is this?" Gandalf turned to her,"Black Speech. I found it when two men mistook me for a common beggar." Thorin laughed,"I imagine they regretted that."

"What does it say?", asked Mivera. Gandalf took a deep breath,"It is a promise of payment." Thorin looked at the wizard,"For what?" Gandalf said in a low voice,"You head, Thorin Oakenshield."

Mivera felt horrified,"What do you propose we do? Just stroll into Erebor?" Gandalf shook his head,"No my dear Mivera. The task I have in mind requires stealth. Which is why we will need a burglar."