Chapter 1

Arien's P.O.V

"You go on ahead of me. I'll meet you there when this meeting is over," Thorin, my husband of 27 happy years said. We only have one child, a son that turned 22 not that long ago.

I nodded my head placing a hand on his bearded cheek. "I'll meet you there," I said, and then gave him a quick kiss before turning to mount the horse waiting for me.

It took a day of hard riding to make it to the Shire. I soon could see the other dwarves pony's outside Hobbiton hitching it beside Gandalf's horse. I made my way into the quiet and peaceful place, making my way towards the house we where to gather at. It wasn't hard to find, from all the noise that was coming from it.

I knocked on the green door which made all the activity in the house stop. A minute later the door was opened by a opened, about to speak but had stopped himself in mid sentence. I nodded to him as I stooped into the house.

"Bilbo, I would like you to met Arien, a Ranger of the North and wife to the leader of our company. Who you will meet later," Gandalf said.

"At your service, Mister Baggins," I said.

"Ah, yes. And at yours," He said.

I took off my cape and handed it to Bilbo, who placed it with the others. I also removed my weapons. Depositing them with the other weapons sitting around the entrance, I walked down the hall to where all the noise was coming. I had just come in time to see all the dwarves drinking ale, when they finished, they all began burping. I rolled my eyes at them, shaking my head. "Dwarves!" I said under my breath. After all the laughter was finished was when they finally noticed me, making them all stand up. "Milady," Was said around the table.

"Please, no need for that, not when we are among friends," Fili and Kili left the table and pulled me into a hug. After giving them a smile, I moved over to where Balin and Dwalin where and started up a conversation with them.

Before I know it I hear Bilbo yell, "Excuse me. That's my mother's West Farthing crockery; it's over a hundred years old!" I watched as the dwarves at the table begin to rhythmically drum on the table with utensils and their fists. "And can-can you not do that? You'll blunt them!" Bilbo said.

"Ooh, d'hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives," Bofur said.

Kili then starts to sing as the other join him.

"Blunt the knives, bend the forks
Smash the bottles and burn the corks
Chip the glasses and crack the plates
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Cut the cloth, tread on the fat
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat
Pour the milk on the pantry floor
Splash the wine on every door!
Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you're finished if they are whole
Send them down the hall to roll!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"

Bilbo huffs in anger, only to find all the dishes stacked and clean. We all laugh, but are quieted by three loud knocks on the door.

"He is here," Gandalf says.

We followed him into the front room. I stood beside Gandalf as Bilbo opened the door. I see my husband's back before he turns around to look into the door.

"Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door," He said as he took off his cape.

"Your wife did not seem to have a hard time finding it," Gandalf said.

"She always was the better tracker then me," He said with a smile. I gave him a smile back as I took his cape and placed it with mine.

Then Bilbo spoke up. "Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago."

"There is a mark. I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

"So this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done any fighting?" Thorin says as he walks around him.

"Pardon me?"

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"

"Well, I have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."

"I thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." The others all laughed, while I kept my face passive.

I followed Thorin into the dining room and sat to his right. As we ate the rest of them talk to him.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" Balin asked.
"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms."

The dwarves murmured their joy.

"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked.

"They will not come. They say this quest is ours and ours alone."

"What of your people Arien?" Kili asked. All of them looked at me.

"It if was in our power they would help, for it's our duty to protect the Free People of Middle-Earth, but I have not had contact with them in 30 years. I do not know where they reside now. But they also have their own battles to fight," I said, as they all sigh.

"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo finally spoke up.

"Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more like," Gandalf said. Bilbo brings over a candle as Gandalf spread out a map on the table. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond the woodlands and wastelands lies a single solitary peak."

"The Lonely Mountain," Bilbo reads off the map.

"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time," Gloin says.

"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," Oin said.

"Uh, what beast?" Bilbo asked concerned.

"Well that would be a reference of Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest of our age. Airborne fire-breathing, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals..." Bofur went on.

"Yes, I know what a dragon is."

"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie," Ori said. "Sit down!" Dori said.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just fourteen, and not fourteen of the best, nor brightest. No offence to you milady," Balin said to me at the end. I smiled to him, they knew that I was even with Thorin in combat. All the dwarves started arguing again. I stopped listening to them in till Thorin bellow and stands up.

"Shazara! If we have read these sighs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumors have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for 60 years. Eyes look east to the mountains, 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 sieve this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekar! Du Bekar!" Thorin said, sitting back down.

"You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain," Balin said.

"That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true," Gandalf said.

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

"How come you by this."

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now," He said as he hands the key to Thorin as they all look at it in wonder.

"If there's a key, there must be a door," Fili said.

Gandalf points at the runes on the map with his pipe. "These runes speaks of a hidden passage to the lower halls." "There's another way in," Kili said.

"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 other 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."

"That's why we need a burglar," Ori says.

"Hmm, A good one too. An expert, I'd imagine."

"And are you?"
"Am I what?"

"He said he's and expert! Hey hey!"

"M- -Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar, I've never stolen a thing in my life."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material."

"Aye, the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves."

As the dwarves started arguing again, I had to stand up and move away. I stood by the door to the other room to get a breather. I listened in to Gandalf's reasoning. Then see Balin hand Bilbo the contract.

I watched him as he read through the contract. "...evisceration...incineration?" he said looking towards the dwarves. I didn't catch what was said to him before I see Bilbo fall to the floor in a faint. I moved over to his side and turn him over. "Bilbo?" I said. I look up to see Gandalf and Thorin walking over and pick him up before they place him in the living room on a chair.

All the other dwarves where places within the house talking amongst themselves. I moved over to Thorin and leaned against his chest, trying to stave off the sleep. We then watch Bilbo walk away. "You are tired. Why don't you go in the living room and rest?" Thorin said to me. I looked at him and nodded, and move into the living room.

A couple of minutes after entering, the rest join me in the room. Thorin placed his hand on my shoulder has he walked by to stand in front of the fire place. Seeing him there reminds me of our place back in the Blue Mountain.

Flaskback

I look up as I hear a scream of laughter to see Thorin on his back on the floor with our three year old son sitting on his chest. I had been stitching his pants that had been ripped from his playing. I stood up and placed he pants on the chair and moved over to stand over my two boys. "Duilin, it's time for bed." I said, leaning down to pick him up.

"But mama."

"No buts about it," I said, walking towards the hall, I look back to see Thorin sit up watching me.

After tucking him in, Duilin asked me to tell him a story.

"What do you wish to hear?" I asked.
"Father never talks about his home, but hear you two talk about it."

I sigh. "The reason he doesn't tell you is because it still hurts him to think about it."

"But why?"

"When you are older, you will understand," I said. "Why don't I just sing you a song."

"Ok."

"Far over the misty mountains cold.
To dungeons deep, and caverns old.
We must away, at break of day.
To find our long forgotten gold.
The pines were roaring on the height.
The winds were moaning in the night.
The fire was red, it flaming spread.
The trees like torches blazed with light."

I left his room after noticing he was asleep. When I returned to the living room, I find that Thorin was still on the floor. I was going to walk passed him when he grabbed my legs and pulled me down beside him. "Thorin!" I exclaimed. I lied on my back while he leaned against him arm looking down. "I heard you singing to him," He said softly.

"I'm sorry, if it brought back memories."

"There's no need to apologize," He said as he moved down closer. "When he's older, he will learn about his people, from both sides," He said. I pulled him down the rest of the way into a passionate kiss.

End Flashback.

I was brought back from the past as I could hear the dwarves start to hum and Thorin sing. After the song was over, Thorin turned to me and held out his hand. I took it as he pulled me over to where we would be spending the night.