An Unexpected Party

I was sitting quietly in the parlor of my adoptive brother's home reading, when a loud ring came form the frond door. "Bilbo, were you expecting anyone this evening?"

"Not to my knowledge." I could hear his feet pattering over the ground and toward the front door. I decided I might as well meet and greet the unexpected visitor. I placed my book down on the low table beside my chair and went to investigate.

By chance I reached the door just as Bilbo did, and had to duck to avoid the chandelier in the hall. Bilbo reached out and opened the door to reveal a muscled dwarf with a bald and tattooed head. The dwarf bowed. "Dwalin at your service." His voice was deep and I could tell that he was a warrior.

Bilbo coughed and quickly tied his robe shut. "Bilbo Baggins and Asha Baggins at yours." Dwalin walked past Bilbo and into the hall, all the while undoing his cloak.

"Which way laddie? Is it over here?" Dwalin began to move toward the kitchen.

Bilbo struggled with the cloak that the dwarf had thrown at him and I plucked it from his grasp to hang it up on the cloak rack. "Is what where Mr. Dwalin?" I asked for my brother.

"Supper. He said there would be food and lots of it."

Bilbo looked utterly confused at this comment. "He said? Who said?"

I giggled at his expression. "Well brother dear, you did have a visit from a wizard earlier who invited you to go on an adventure. Who do you think gave this dwarf directions to your house using that observation?" Bilbo stormed into the kitchen to play host to Dwalin while I laughed again. It really was pointless saying no to a wizard.

From experience I know where one dwarf was there was going to be at least another and all would be hungry. Knowing this I headed toward the pantry to gather supplies to make enough dinner for a party of dwarves.

I had just taken my first load of foodstuff into the kitchen when the bell rang. Bilbo and I looked up while Dwalin looked unconcerned. "That would be the door," the dwarf prompted and Bilbo immediately scurried off to let in the other guest. I on the other hand, headed back to the pantry for more supplies.

I couldn't help but listen to my brother's conversation with the new guest. "Balin, at your service," a kind grandfatherly voice said.

"Good evening." I cringed. Bad form Bilbo dear.

"Yes. Yes it is. Though I believe it might rain later. Am I late?" My second load of foodstuff was deposited on the kitchen table and I was able to catch sight of the white haired dwarf. He looked like he should be in a home with grandchildren on his knee, not knocking on my brother's door.

"Late for what?" Bilbo was looking at the dwarf with a confused expression on his face. Suddenly a clinking caught everyone's attention. Dwalin was rummaging through a cookie jar that I kept full in case any visitors were peckish.

Balin's face light up upon seeing the other dwarf. "Ho ho. Evening brother." He moved from the entryway toward Dwalin, who was apparently Balin's younger brother, judging from the hair color.

Dwalin sat the jar down and moved toward his brother. "Bless my beard. You're shorter and wider than last we met."

"Wider, not shorter, and sharp enough for the both of us." They placed their hands on each others forearms and whacked their heads together. Bilbo looked flustered while I just rolled my eyes at their antics and moved to get the last of the food I would need for the moment.

As I was rummaging through a crate of tomatoes, the two dwarves came in looking for the beer barrel. Do you mind if we help ourselves Mrs. Baggins?" I looked at Dwalin.

"No I don't and I'm not married to Bilbo, I'm his sister. Call me Ash please." Dwalin nodded and began filling a pint of beer. Balin stepped forward and introduced himself.

"My name is Balin. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Ash." I nodded and headed past my brother into the kitchen to begin cooking dinner. I chuckled as my brother began talking while the two dwarves were obviously not listening.

I was fortunate to be living in a hobbit house hold and preparing a dinner for dwarves. dwarves are not overly picky, as long as the food has meat in it, and hobbbits know how to make a good meal in short notice.

Almost as soon as Bilbo had finished his speech about wanting to know visitors before they came visiting, the bell rang again. He immediately walked to the front door and met the visitors. "Kili."

"And Fili."

"At your service." From the sound of it they were another set of brothers, if not twins.

Bilbo tried to swing the door shut. "Nope! You can't come in, You've come to the wrong house." One of the dwarves outside stuck his foot in the door.

"What? Has it been canceled?"

I had to pipe up. "If you need to just shove through the door. Some of the others are here already." Bilbo shot me a look that could kill and I went back to slicing cheese.

"Well that's a relief." I Could hear the door being swung open and the tramp of two sets of feet enter the hobbit hole. Next thing I heard was the jingling of sword or knife sheaths.

"Careful with these, I've just had them sharpened." I peeked up to see a blond dwarf hand his weapons to Bilbo. I had to laugh at how he was holding them. Bilbo glared at me again.

"It's not funny. You aren't getting things dumped on you."

"Bilbo it is funny because you aren't being a good host when you usually are completely well mannered." He huffed and moved further into the hall. The two new dwarves had met with Dwalin and Balin and were avidly chatting. "Boys." They all looked up. "Would you be so kind as to help set the table for however many are coming since my brother isn't ding it and I am caught up in the kitchen."

"Of course Ash." Dwaling inclined his head. "Fili, Kili, this is Asha Baggins. Ash this is Fili and Kili." The two younger dwarves bowed. Luckily Dwalin had pointed to the respective dwarf as he said their name and she now know the blond was Kili and the brunet was Fili. They both stared at me for a second but didn't comment on my peculiar look. I guess it had to happen. Sooner or later one of the dwarves would comment on my appearance and I would be forced to explain my lack of information.

Then the bell rang again and Bilbo stormed out from where ever he had been hiding. "No. Nobody's home. There are far to many dwarves in my dinning room as it is and if this is some clot heads idea of a joke then I can say it is in very poor taste." On the last word he yanked the door inward and in tumbled a group of dwarves with an exceedingly fat one on the top. "Gandalf" I guessed the wizard was standing outside the door where I couldn't see him.

Once the dwarves picked themselves up off the ground they were more than happy with the introductions. Nori seemed to like triangles because his hair was done in three points. Dori looked like he had a helmet's chin strap on. Ori was the youngest so far besides Fili and Kili. Oin had his beard braided into tusks. Gloin had many snaking braids in his red beard. Bifur reminded me of a skunk and had and ax in the back of his hair. Bofur had on a floppy eared hat. And Bombur was certainly the largest.

Gandalf had turned during the introductions and caught sight of me. "Ah, Miss Asha. How wonderful it is to see you again my dear." At his comment the dwarves turned around. All of them stared for a second and then tried to look uninterested in my appearance.

I moved forward and hugged the wizard. "It's good to see you again Gandalf." He hugged me back. When he released me I turned to face the dwarves. "Dinner will be ready in a few moments if you want to head into the dining room." All of them perked up at this.

Bofur stepped forward. "Is there anything we can do to help Miss Asha?"

I smiled. At least they weren't too put off by my appearance. "Yes there is. Can you take the platters from the kitchen to the dining room please?" They all nodded and followed their noses to the scent of food. I edged closer to Gandalf. As soon as the dwarves were out of hearing range I spoke to him. "I'm surprised none of them have commented on a five foot elf standing in a hobbit hole yet."

"That may change with the arrival of the leader. He hates elves but may be lenient toward you because of your situation, but I am not certain." He moved away to join the dwarves. I shook my head. Even if the dwarves don't care about how I look, if their leader hates me then that's that. They won't speak to me. I guess only time can tell what the outcome will be.