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.