Chapter 6 An Unexpected Journey Begins (1)

Here's chapter 6

Start of recap...

[Bilbo and Calen-reading the map:] “The Lonely Mountain.”

"awesome" I whisper smiling as I looked at the map

[Gloin:] “Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time.”

[Oin:] “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.”

[Bilbo, hearing “the beast,” looks concerned.]

End of recap...

Third person pov...

[Bilbo:] “Uh, What beast?”

[Bofur:] “Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals--”

"so you mean a dragon" said Calen realising what Bofur was describing.

[Bilbo:] “Yes, I know what a dragon is.”

[Ori:] “I’m not afraid! I’m up for it. I’ll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie.”

Several dwarves shout.

[Dori:] “Sit down!”

[Balin:] “The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest.”

The dwarves start objecting, saying things like, “Hey, who are you calling dim?” “Watch it!”, and “No! "

Calen laughs behind her hand as Balin says this, not bothering about the Dwarves shouts.

[Oin:] “What did he say?”

[Fili:] “We may be few in number, but we’re fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!”

[Kili:] “And you forget, we have a wizard in our company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time.”

[Gandalf:] “Oh, well, now, uh, I-I-I wouldn’t say that, I- -”

[Dori:] “How many, then?”

[Gandalf:] “Uh, what?”

[Dori:] “Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!”

[Gandalf:] “Hm.”

"that's because he hasn't" muttered Calen, laughing when Gandalf slapped the back of the Elflings head.

Gandalf embarrassedly starts coughing on his pipe smoke; the dwarves jump to their feet, arguing about the number of dragons Gandalf has killed.

Thorin jumps up in anger and bellows, silencing the rest.

[Thorin:] “Shazara! [Silence!] If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? 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! Du Bekâr! [ To arms! To arms!]”

All the dwarves cheer loud and proud, almost waking up the entire neighbourhood, Calen winced as they yelled her poor elf ears.

[Balin:] “You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain.”

[Gandalf:] “That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true.”

Twiddling his fingers, Gandalf produces a dwarvish key, ornately wrought. Thorin looks at it in wonder.

[Thorin:] “How came you by this?”

[Gandalf:] “It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now.”

Gandalf hands the key to Thorin as everyone looks on in wonder, Calen entridged reach out a hand to touch it but bilbo slapped it playfully.

Grumbling Calen sat back down as Kili and Fili laughed at her she stuck her tongue out at them who did it back to her.

[Fili:] “If there is a key, there must be a door.”

[Gandalf points at runes on his map with his pipe.]

[Gandalf:] “These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls.”

[Kili:] “There’s another way in!”

[Gandalf:] “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.”

[Ori:] “That’s why we need a burglar.”

"is that why you are here to recruit Mr Baggins" asked Calen shocking everyone but Thorin who looked on emused at the elfling.

Gloin then turned to Bilbo to ask him something.

[Gloin:] “And are you?”

[Bilbo:] “Am I what?”

[Oin:] “He said he’s an expert! Hey hey!”

Several dwarves laugh, so does Calen.

[Bilbo:] “M--Me? No, no, no, no, no. I’m not a burglar; I’ve never stolen a thing in my life.”

[Balin:] “I’m afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He’s hardly burglar material.”

Bilbo nods in agreement, Calen frowns, "But bilbo you have to please *puppy eyes*" she cries.

Bilbo looks at her then at the Dwarves back at Calens puppy eyes and sighed in defeat.

"Yesss!!!" cheered calen, bilbo smiled at her happyness.

[Dwalin:] “Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves.”

Bilbo continues nodding in agreement; the dwarves begin arguing.

Gandalf, growing angry, rises to his full height and casts darkness over the group as starts speaking in his “powerful” voice. The others stop in awe.

[Gandalf:] “Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is.”

Gandalf goes back to his normal self, Calen startled by Gandalf literally jumped into Kilis lap scared, Kili held the Elfling tightly.

[Gandalf:] “Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose.

And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage.

You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins.

There’s a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he’s got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this.”

[Thorin:] “Very well. We will do it your way.

[Bilbo:] “No, no, no.”

[Thorin:] “Give him the contract.”

[Bilbo:] “Please.”

[Bofur:] “Alright, we’re off!”

Balin hands Bilbo a long contract, Bilbo stares at it and Calen gets out of Kilis arms to look at it herself.

The end

Hi as I promised chapter 6 is finished hope you have liked it!

Bye!

Word count :1100