37 - Balin (06)

“Aye, but I need to finish this beer first, don’t want to insult the barkeeper” Balin answered and raised his glass. Balin was lost in thought and didn’t comprehend and next thing Thorin said. As the rest of the dwarf group got into single file, to leave the tavern, Balin muttered incoherently, something between a “see you later” and “okay”. If he got a response then it was lost upon him. Most of Balin’s abilities have deteriorated through the last years like his spotting, raw strength, conditioning and tolerance for beer and ale. However, he had become quite adapt at hiding his drunkenness, unlike the younger dwarves. Well at least he hoped so, for if experience has taught him anything is that you should think twice before giving praise to yourself. Thorin was proving more and more to be a stable authority figure. An adventuring party without a proper leader would easily loose its purpose, but thanks to Thorin it was just another thing that could go terrible wrong that Balin did not have to worry about. As he thought about Thorin the bizarre words “Dad of the sugar” kept creeping back in his mind. He took a deep breath, shook his head to clear himself of his spinning thoughts and gulped down the last of his beer. He got up and stumbled a bit before he was able to get a steady footing. He smiled to himself and left the tavern out of the front door. He took another deep breath of the fresh air outside and looked down the road to see Bilbo running towards him. “Aye, it’s time for your last adventure old dwarf… To adventure..” Balin whispered to himself with a somber smile.

36 - Thorin (06)

The innkeeper hastily came up with the pitcher, filled with new ale for the grateful Bombur, as he had just gotten out of a lookout shift as well as recieved a fresh ale. "Enough!", Thorin said to the waiter as well as to his fellow dwarves. "It is time for us to leave this place, and even if it weren't the time that were the issue, some of you have had enough to drink for this early hour as well and we have a long journey ahead of us." Fili felt embarrased as it was quite apparent that Thorin was referring to him as the one who had had enough. Thorin arose from the table and lifted his pitcher to the other dwarves. "Finish what you have in your pitchers and then it is time for our adventure to begin. There will be no more beverages like this for quite some time so enjoy it. To adventure!" The other dwarves answered him with a loud "To adventure", and all of them except Balin and Fili chugged the wonderful remains of their glasses. Fili, of course, had nothing left to drink, and Balin would rather enjoy what he had left a little bit longer. "Fili! Kili! Lead us to our means of transportation, as I hope you have prepared them well for us. Balin! If you insist on sitting here alone with your drink I would rather you were at least on the lookout for our two missing companions." Thorin and his entourage thereafter left the tavern in a perfectly straight, single, file, as seems to be the favourite way for dwarves to get from one place to another.

35 - Bombur (07)

  "That is indeed not what I had in mind. Instead, for this inconvenience, how about you take one of my shifts during lookout when we're out camping in the wild?" said Bombur with a wide grin on his face.
  "I think that's a fair compensation for me having to ride all day with beer-soaked breeches, don't you think?"

  "That's a bit..." Fili started, but he realized that he was defeated.

34 - Fili (06)

After gaining his balance Fili turned to face what he believed to be a furious Bombur. "I'm so sorry. That was not my intention" said Fili with a worried voice. "It's fine, it's only beer, but you owe me one" responded Bombur. "Very well I will get you some more ale to drink" said Fili and prepared to run to the innkeeper, "I don't think that's what he meant brother." Said Kili barely able to contain the laughter.

33 - Dori (06)

Dori was still sitting at the table observing his adventure companions. Some of them seemed to be of good cheer thanks to the beer and the pleasant stop at the inn, some of them seemed to be deep in thought and some others seemed to be excited at the idea of taking part in the adventourous mission. Fili and Kili were part of this last group of dwarves. Their young age was certainly influencing their mood and behaviour, and they were so enthusiastic that they couldn't sit still and silent. Suddenly, while the two brothers were shouting and jumping excitedly around, Fili lost his balance and spilled his entire beer in the lap of the surprised Bombur who was enjoying his meal in peace. Dori felt embarresed, and he was sure that he was not the only one around the table feeling that way. "I'll go out and just take some fresh air while you try to recompose yourselves", he said standing up.

32 - Gandalf (06)

It seemed at last as this company were ready to embark on their adventure. Gandalf's worries had subsided as he had climbed down the hill. These dwarves might not be the company the wise lords of Númenor or fair elves of old would have chosen had they set out to slay a dragon, but he felt hope in the darkness. He rose from his chair and grabbed Thorins shoulder: "I believe we might see a dragon after all, young master dwarf. I am glad to see you as the leader of this company." Gandalf turned for the door, hunched over with his back bent. "I will go fetch us our burglar, as we wouldn't want him to become too fond of your absence." With that he stepped through the door and caught a deep breath of the rich air of the Shire before setting course for the Hill.

31 - Thorin (05)

Thorin was not amused by the desperation of the two hobbits who seemed way too eager for their own good to join the group. "If it is death you seek, there are many simpler ways than being eaten by a dragon, stabbed by goblins or crushed by orcs. With all the noise you made just entering this tavern I feel like you would be the death of us all, something I do not wish neither upon myself or my fellow companions." The hobbits didn't seem as cocky as they had been just seconds ago while approaching the table. There might have been some adventurous spirit still in them, but before they had the slightest chance of proving themselves to the dwarves, Thorin continued to outwit them. "Besides, we already have found the greatest thief the Shire has to offer so I would suggest you leave us in peace before I run out of hospitalities and ale to keep my spirits high." Thorin looked upon Gandalf who nodded his big head in agreement while blowing out an impressive circle of smoke from his pipe. As the hobbits backed away silently from the table Thorin took a deep breath from his own, and out came three small rings that passed through what the wizard already had created, still soaring in the air above them.

30 - Balin (05)

There were few things that could make you as merry as a good song and some beer. Balin took a hearty swig from his stein of beer and wiped off the foam from his white beard. He looked around the tavern and only saw two hobbits that stood out. Unlike the other hobbits that were looking at the group with wonder, these two had a devilish smirk with a worrying glint in their eyes. Balin made eye contact with Thorin and received a curt serious nod. Balin relaxed noticeably; Thorin was ever yet proving that he would be an even greater leader than his father once they had gotten the mountain back. The two hobbits strolled over with their hands in their pockets. The one in front was of an average size for a hobbit, however, definitely the leanest hobbit he had ever seen. His companion was smaller and had the familiar roundness of a hobbit. He continuously scanned the tavern while following his friend. “Greetings dwarves! We heard there might be a group around these parts that are going on an adventure,” the lean one said with outmost arrogance, “Do you fellows happen to know anything about that?”. The small started to giggle but quickly restrained himself after a swift heel kick, from his overconfident friend, that landed on his shin. Balin felt a sudden need to cuff the two hobbits but he controlled himself and left that for Thorin.

29 - Fili (05)

As the mood were slowly dropping, the younger dwarves decided to bring out their fiddles. "Let's play a song about our adventure to come." said Fili. It didn't take long before the instruments were out and with a deep tone the dwarves begun to sing.

Far from the mountains cold

Where rivers flow amongst fields of gold

With hills and dales across the plains

And a dreaded lack of gold.

There are no mountains to be found

No gems nor gold

No mines nor stones

No ancient halls with ale and song.

Far over the mountains cold

Where dragons sleep on hoards of gold

We travel to the dwarven home

To reclaim the golden hoard.

While the dragon still slumbers in the deep

While dwarven kin moves to its feet

To slay the dragon as it sleeps

To reclaim the halls in the deep.

28 - Gandalf (05)

"I am here now." Gandalf appeared in the door, which was all together too small for him, so he stood hunched in the door post. The dwarves looked somewhat humbled since last and had brought in some pints of beer. Dwalin looked up at Gandalf and asked: "And where have you been as we have procured the supplies?" Gandalf snapped at him: "Doing things that needed doing young dwarf, and I'll have no more questions at that." Gandalf noticed Thorin at the end of the table looking stern and decisive. Someone among the younger dwarves raised a hand, as if in a school class. It was Nori. When Gandalf's eyes fell upon him he shrinked in his chair. "Yes?" asked the wizard. "Well, we were wondering whether it would be you that would slay the dragon?" Gandalf sat down on a stool much too small for him and sighed. "Tell you what Nori, that is for me to know and you to find out." With those words he ended the conversation on dragonslaying.

27 - Dori (05)

"Who says that elves are such an unpleasant species?", asked Dori to Bombur trying to make him more reasonable - you never knew what would have happened during their venture and it was important to be focused on the treasure more than on ancient prejudices. "You barely put your nose outside your door and you presume you know everything about the world! Don't be a fool and go back to your ale and meal". Bombur looked surprised and his reaction was understandable: as said previously, Dori used to be the kind one. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be such a bigot. I'm just keeping to what I've heard about them", he said to Dori. Dori took a sip of his beer feeling guilty for having been so bitter, but he still was convinced that it wasn't so important to worry about elves. Beer was definitely the only thing that was able to awake the real dwarf in him. "I wonder where Gandalf and the burglar are", he then added.

26 - Bombur (06)

Bombur looked up from the largest stein of beer he had ever been presented with.
  "Don't go worrying about such things, Fili. I'm sure Thorin has thought of something already. We didn't come all the way over here to recruit a hobbit for nothing, am I right?"
A few others nodded their heads in agreement. What was important now was how to get there.
The first part of their journey would likely be the easiest one. the lands on this side of the Misty Mountains had not been afflicted of the hardships that plagued other parts of the world. However, and Bombur did not quite like it, these lands also housed a lot of elves.
  "Will we be able to cross the mountains without passing through Rivendell? I don't reckon those stinky elves would take kindly to a throng of dwarves intruding on their property. And for that matter, I don't suppose any of us are very fond of elves either!"
  "Hear, hear. I concur wholeheartedly", Dwalin shouted.
Upon hearing these words, Thorin exchanged a look with Balin, but decided to say nothing for the time being.

25 - Fili (04)

In the meantime Fili and Kili had completed their task to tie up the ponies, and were entering the tavern, looking around seeing a few hobbits sitting at a table close to the dwarves.
The innkeeper walked up to the newly arrived dwarves "What will you have?". "Two pints of ale" responded Kili as they sat down at the table.
Fili looked towards the dwarf and said "The ponies are in the stable at the back.". The dwarves nodded in response.
"We were discussing how to get the gold out, Kili says that we are going to steal the treasure from the dragon. But there must be too much gold for us to carry off. So I was wondering are we going to kill the dragon and how do we kill it?" The innkeeper arrived with the two pints "Here you go.", "Thank you." responded Fili and Kili.

24 - Gandalf (04)

The wizard had been observing the dwarves from under an oak tree up on the hill. This mission had been a long time coming, and gathering the dwarves had been a difficult task in itself. From here on out this journey would be a lot more hazardous than it should have been. The world had grown darker than he remembered it, and the bright lights of civilizations long lost now only faintly glimmered throughout the northern world. So much had been lost since the last great war, and roads which once were hospitable and safe had become forgotten and fallen into darkness.

Of this the dwarves knew little, and their minds were focused on promises of wealth and power handed down to them from their ancestors. They would never lose hope, but their minds were clouded of stories of old. That was why they needed Bilbo. Gandalf had wandered through the vast lands of Middle Earth for longer than most other beings he could name, and the only untouched region that remained was the Shire with its hobbits. They were a peculiar sort these hobbits. Most of the new races had never even heard of this part of the world, and among the elder races those who had not forgotten had stopped to care. They were deemed to be a trivial and useless race. Maybe it was so. Maybe these dwarves were right in their doubts of a new member from this untroubled and distant part of the world. Perhaps there was rhyme and reason to why the Shire had fallen into memory. However Gandalf still believed in these curly-feeted halflings and their abilities. They had something that the rest of the world had lost, and that was what still made them stronger than most kings he had ever met.

The dwarves had purchased some ponies at a local stablekeep and headed of towards the tavern. Gandalf figured that some beer might help him damp the worry he felt. From now on out he had to remain hopefull for the future. He got up and headed down towards the tavern through neatly cropped gardens and small hedges.

23 - Balin (04)

Balin catched up with the group when they were walking in a single file towards the tavern. “You weren’t with us?” Gloin asked perplexed. “While you were bickering about prizes for ponies, like old women, I took it upon myself to get us some lifesaving supplies” Balin answered and continued “Did you lads forget that the luggage ponies need some luggage carry?”. Ori scratched the back of his head, “Oh my, we all wanted a beer so badly that we forgot all about that! If we didn’t have the wise Balin with us then how would Gloin and I be able to start the campfires?” and threw his hands up in the air. “How did you pay for it?” Thorin asked raising his eyebrows in question. “Well a wise old man has his savings” Balin answered with a satisfied smile.

22 - Thorin (04)

"Mr. Brandybuck, if these are all the ponies you have then they will have to do. Even if the quality, of some of them, may not be worthy of the highborn, I guess they will be enough for a small hobbit." Thorin nodded at an older pony standing in the corner of the pen. The hobbit seemed intimidated by all the gold which the dwarf was wearing, but eager to recieve a small amount of what Thorin had on him that would last him a great while. "Well, sir, I guess I could give you some discount." This was just what Thorin expected to hear as he had already prepared a sack of gold for the stablekeep. "Good then. I figure this will be enough for all the ponies. Fili! Kili! Help our dear Mr. Brandybuck to prepare our steeds for our journey and bring them to the tavern. For you others, let's celebrate this purchase with some ale." The dwarves cheered in rejoice and with almost hobbit-light feet followed their leader to the tavern.

21 - Bombur (05)

And with that, Bombur stepped up and approached the stablekeep.
  "Bombur at your service" he declared.
  "Humphrey Brandybuck at yours. How do you do, sir?" said the perplexed little fellow.
Bombur scanned the stables and looked upon all the creatures of varying colors and sizes.
  "I was wondering, do you happen to sell any ponies of a more robust size?" he inquired.
  "A fullsized horse if you'd like, sir? Got a few around the back for our human and elven patrons."
Pondering the practicality of this, Bombur quickly decided that a horse was not an option.
  "I'll go with that one." he said, and pointed at stalwart chestnut specimen. "Now, let's do business!"

20 - Dori (04)

"Let a wise man take care of it", interrupted Dori and he approached the small hobbit who was rubbing down a beautiful brown pony. "Good morning, sir" "Good morning", replied the hobbit, "What a surprise to talk to such a polite dwarf", he then said. The hobbit had never met a dwarf in his life, but the tales that he heard from the members of his family described them as very rude, greedy and even stinky. "You know, sir, I accompany myself to this group of dwarves, but I am the wise and gentle one", admitted Dori with a smile. And then he added, "Would you be so kind to sell us some of your ponies?". Now he was indeed exaggerating his politeness in order to get a good deal.

19 - Fili (03)

"Don't worry I will take care of this" said Fili with a great deal of enthusiasm.
"The last time you tried to haggle we ended up paying almost twice the original deal" responded Kili.
Fili had completely forgot that on their way to the hobbit's house they had found a merchant that was selling fiddles. He had been so happy about finding a good pair, that he had seemed a bit too eager when he asked the merchant for the price. And they had later found out that the merchant had raised the price for the fiddles to almost double what he usually offered them for.

18 - Thorin (03)

"Titles are given when titles are deserved my dear Bombur, and finishing breakfast isn't something that I have ever experienced would be a reason for ones lordship. What will be of you after we have slain the dragon and returned our land to our people is not innkeepers, but indeed wealthy men. What titles you choose to buy with all that gold is up to you."
The thought of the massive piles of gold waiting on them was definitely something that lifted the spirits of the dwarves, and the morning became even more wonderful for the travelers. With spirits high they finally reached a stable not far away from the inn that some of the dwarves longed so for. They came upon a small hobbit, even smaller than the one they met yesterday who apparently were much better at waking up at a reasonable time than Mr. Baggins.

17 - Bombur (04)

King under the Mountain, the title granted to the ruler of Erebor. It certainly had a nice ring to it. Nevertheless, there was a matter that the fellowship had yet to discuss.
  "What are to become of the rest of us, after we reclaim the mountain?" he asked their leader. "I reckon there are plenty of fancy titles to be given around to the King's closest men!"
  "Don't you mean if  we reclaim the mountain?", Bofur added with a smile. "There is still a terrifying dragon lurking in there, if you hadn't forgotten."
  "For sure, but it doesn't hurt to be optimistic and ponder about what happens afterwards! General Bombur, maybe? Nah, that's more of Dwalin's area of expertise I suppose. Chief treasurer Bombur! Innkeep Bombur? As for you, brother, you're more fit to be a stonecutter or a street sweeper, hah!"
They hadn't given much thought to what would happen if they succeeded. The thirteen of them would certainly not be enough to restore Erebor to what it once was, but hopefully the dwarves of the Iron Hills, ruled by Thorin's second cousin Dáin, would respond to their call if only they were able to contact them in some way.
As they marched on into the flowery serenity that was Hobbiton, looking for stables or what-not, Bombur and his fellows mused over what their lives would become if they got through this ordeal sound and alive.

16 - Thorin (02)

Thorin noticed that Dori grew irritated and grumpyness was something he felt their journey were much too young for. But as he knew how tiresome many of Dori's stories were he didn't want to encourage him either, and decided that the well being of the group were much too important and therefore decided to not give Dori's feelings any further thought.
"We need to find decent ponies first. Not only for ourselves but also for our newly acquired hobbit-friend. Walking all the way to Bree in the name of our thirst before we get a new opportunity to find ourselves descent riding-material is something I would not reccomend."
He looked upon Bombur and generously gave away a smile.
"But worry not, my friend, in the name of Thrór, King under the Mountain, we shall not leave this place thirsty."

15 - Dori (03)

"I know what you mean, Balin", said Dori while they were walking toward the first stop-over of their venture, "I remember that once when I was younger...", he added with genuine enthusiasm, but as soon as he began his tale, he noticed that all the dwarves were smiling sarcastically under their moustache and beards. 

It was not the first time that Dori entertained them with long, detailed tales about his youth, and he immediately fell silent. He was wise and strong, but also quite touchy. 

He then preferred to continue walking and enjoy the beautiful landscape around them. It would have been stupid to start the day having words with them. In addition, the other dwarves didn't ask him to continue with his story, which made him even more irritated. 

"Better I don't speak now" he said with feeble voice to himself.

Then, they all continued walking in silence.

14 - Balin (03)

"Ha! We have to gather supplies and ponies before we try their tavern" Balin advised with a broad smile. “Aye, I used to do it the other way around in my younger days” he continued “We’d end up with donkeys, because at the time we liked their personalities, and more pipe-weed and ale instead of proper supplies”.    

13 - Bombur (03)

As usual, Bombur was the last dwarf to leave. He didn't quite see why everyone always had to rush things, so he strode outside in a relaxed pace. Yet when it was needed he could be serious enough, and he clearly understood the gravity of the adventure they were just about to undertake. Humming a cheerful tune from the past, the days when they used to wander the lands of men, doing odd jobs for a living, Bombur closed the door to the hobbit hole shut.
  "Let's get going then." he heard Thorin's voice from up ahead.
  "Time to see what Hobbiton has to offer" Bombur remarked to his peers. "Maybe we can find a decent place for some ale?"
  "It's early in the morning! What kind of savage gets drunk before noon?" said Bofur, his brother.
  "As if you're one to talk!" he retorted with a hearty laugh.

12 - Balin (02)

Perhaps Gandalf was not as stubborn as a dwarf after all. He seemed to be arguing like an elf now. Darting in with a snide remark and disappearing just as fast before you had a chance to retort. However, wizards were a tricky bunch. You finally thought that you had them figured out and then suddenly everything changed. They were probably more complex than any woman he had had the pleasure of meeting, he mused.

   Even if you had an unskilled and unwilling burglar, a wizard, not just any wizard but Gandalf the Grey, was a tremendous advantage. A wizard weighed far heavier on the scales than any burglar. In fact Balin worried that the dwarves might slow Gandalf down. “Remember lads, the key to any successful adventure is a positive attitude”, said Balin to remind the group and especially himself.      

11 - Gandalf (03)

Gandalf noticed the dwarves emerging from the house from under the brim of his hat. It was time now to start this venture. He had hoped to be more hopefull at this point, but there was a darkness at the horizon that could not be denied. He sent away the last smoke ring and joined the dwarves.

"Where have you been at?" asked Thorin when he spotted him. Gandalf responded with a smirk, "Organizing my mind among equals. I understand that you have written a letter to Bilbo. It's nice to see that you can manage on your own". The dwarves muttered among themselves. "Now, on to the important steps ahead. I will go gather some information on my own, and I expect you to manage the rest." With that Gandalf left the company before the dwarves had time to think up an answer and passed the gate on his way into town.

10 - Fili (02)

Meanwhile in the pantry, the dwarves were finishing up packing supplies. They had found plenty of food in the young hobbits larder and pantry, and the backpacks were starting to get full.
"Would you look at this!" Oris voice was coming from one of the corners inside the pantry. "What is it?" asked Fili and Kili at the same time, hurrying over to see what the excitement was all about.
"This is some quality wine, look it says 1296(S.A.) and 2896(T.A.) that's a very fine year. Who would have thought the hobbit would have such a good taste in wine.". "We thought you found something interesting" said Fili with a disappointed sound in his voice. However Ori did not seem to notice "Well I better bring it, after all there is no telling when next we will see such fine wine again.". Kili who was still standing close enough to hear the mumbling dwarf replied "It might not be such a good idea to bring it, what if it breaks?".The older dwarf let out a deep sigh as he put the bottle back in place next to the others "You're right the glass might have ripped the bag". After the dwarves packed up the rest they grabbed the bags and headed for the door.

09 - Thorin (01)

Thorin lifted his eyes from the table and stared at Balin, as he suggested waking up the hobbit. ”Mr. Baggins, our host, might prefer spending the morning in his own bed, but as his guests we have no time for such luxuries and must prepare ourselves for our journey. If Gandalf is right in trusting this hobbit he will wake up in time for our departure.” His eyes moved on to Dori as he still stood there confused and waiting for an answer.

"We are writing a letter to our host and burglar, to make sure that Mr. Baggins does indeed, when he arises from his repose, join us for our departure”, he said as he was laying down the feathered pen on the wooden table. As Thorin had finished his mug of ale as well as his letter-writing, he left his chair to put the letter on Mr. Baggins mantelpiece and went for the door. ”I expect you lot to finish up as well."

08 - Balin (01)

Gandalf had proved to be as stubborn as a dwarf, but Balin was still not convinced. Why bring a burglar that didn’t even want to go himself? An unwilling burglar would be nothing but dead weight and a tasty snack for Smaug, if they even got that far. Gandalf was indeed older and wiser then Balin, alas, Balin had heard stories and even witnessed wise seers that eventually became delusional with age, or perhaps Balin himself was the victim of such afflictions. It just didn’t make any sense and Balin could feel the headache that he woke up with earlier creeping back. Thankfully though, Dori woke him up from his spiraling thoughts with his many questions and concerned expression. Balin sighed from mental exhaustion. It didn’t sit well with him to anger a wizard. “Should we stir our host and ask him one last time if he wants to come with us on an adventure?”, Balin asked still looking at the note Gandalf left.