Chp 2

Curious Events

Pigs. Defiantly pigs. Vana had decided that they ate like pigs throwing food around and passing out ale as they stepped on the food. It took a few moments after the initial shock at how they ate and how loud they could be. Completely different from how she knew life to be. Vana sat quietly eating her food, like how she was taught. She heard one of them, Ori if she remember correctly let out a large burp. Vana couldn't help but want to study each of the dwarfs, they were such a sight she had never seen before. Soon supper was done and Vana left the kitchen and headed towards the study where no one was at, for the moment anyways. She saw a small fire burning and smiled as she reached forward and flames danced towards her hand before returning again to the fire. A loud knock interrupted her and she looked as everyone headed to the door and Gandalf opened the door.

Vana walked quietly towards it and saw another dwarf enter; he was older and had a few grey hairs in his hair but was handsome none the less. Vana saw him talking to Bilbo and stood quietly out of sight, she knew that she was an unexpected guest and saw them heading back to the dining room and Vana easily slipped towards them.

"You're going on a quest," Bilbo said as Vana slipped into the door way behind him.

"Oh Bilbo my dear fellow let us get a little more light," Gandalf said and notice Vana still slightly off in the distance "Come here my dear," and Vana stepped closer and Thorin gave her a sideways glance as Bilbo walked over with the candle.

"They Lonely Mountain," Bilbo said as he leaned over and read it.

"Aye and the portents say it is time," Gloin said.

Vana got a suddenly chill run through her. Something about this adventure had worked a small seed of foreboding within her.

"Uh what beast," Bilbo said and Vana looked at him as Bofur started to talk.

"Well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible," Bofur said "Chief of the greatest calamity of our age. Air borne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks, and extremely prone to precious metals."

"A dragon," Vana said as Thorin looked at her again.

"Who are you," Thorin said.

"Vana," she replied with a slight curtsey and before Thorin could talk again Bilbo spoke.

"Yes I know what a dragon is," Bilbo said.

"I'm not afraid, I'm up for it," Ori said and stood up "I will give him a taste of dwarfish iron right up his jacks."

"Sit down," Dori said and yanked on him and pulled him to sit down.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number just 13, and not 13 of the best no brightest," Balin said and Vana held in a small snort as they all started to argue.

"We may be few in number," FIli said "But we are fighters, all of us" as he slammed his hand on the table "To the last dwarf!"

"And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time" Kili said and looked at Gandalf who looked at his pipe.

Vana had walked out to leave them arguing as she walked towards the fire again and watched the embers burn. Fire was something that Vana always was attracted to, it was something among fairies that everyone had. Fire was it for Vana, it called to her, even sang to her. Vana reached out and placed her hand upon the fire and watch the flames burn over her skin not leaving any marks.

"What are you doing?" a voice came and interrupted Vana and she saw one of the younger dwarfs looking at her, Kili.

"Stoking the fire," Vana said as she took her hand out from the flames and smiled brightly "I'm so excited!"

"Where we are headed is no place for gentle folk," Dwalin said coming over into the room and Vana just smiled.

"I'm not a gently folk Mr. Dwalin," Vana said with a smile.

"Vana adds something special that will be needed on this quest," Gandalf said coming in and saw Vana surrounded by the dwarfs, "Do not let her small stature fool you, she is very feisty."

"Yes I am!" Vana said with a huge smile and then looked outside and saw something fly by the window "Fireflies!" Vana was out the door quicker than the dwarfs she realized she was gone.

Vana was out in the darkness as she looked at the fireflies, she danced and the fireflies went around her and she let out a huge laugh. She then jumped up in the air and landed silently on the fence post and jumped swiftly and with ease across the fence. The fireflies following her every move. What she didn't notice was that two people were watching her from inside.

"What is she?" Thorin asked Gandalf as he looked at Vana leap around silently and like the wind.

"Special," Gandalf said "Something that was forgotten long ago, something that you need to discover for yourself." Thorin just gave Gandalf a look at he returned to the fire.

Kili was in the other room and had looked at Vana; he was amazed at how light she was on her feet. Kili didn't know what to make of their 15th companion on this journey.