The Past That Blinds (1 of 3)

We’re all just standing around laughing and talking when a thumping knock came upon the door. Everyone stopped talking and laughing and looked towards where the sound came. There is a short pause of silence before Gandalf speaks
“He is here”
Everyone went to the door standing around the hallway I stood behind everyone as the wizard opened the door to reveal one whose face I hadn’t seen for sixty years, one whom I knew straight away. The son of Thráin, the dwarf prince - Thorin.
“Gandalf” he says waiting outside the door for a moment before walking inside “I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way - twice. I wouldn’t have found it at all had in not been for that mark on the door” He nods to his comrades as he takes his cloak off and drapes it over his arm and they bow their heads in return.
“Mark?” Bilbo asks squeezing past some dwarves “There is no mark on that door it was painted a week ago” Bilbo says as Gandalf closes the door
“There is a mark, I put it there myself” Gandalf states “Bilbo Baggins. Allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield”
Thorin and Bilbo face each other.
“So, this is the hobbit?” He says “Tell me Mr. Baggins have you done much fighting” Thorin circles the hobbit
“Pardon me”
“Axe or sword what’s your weapon of choice?” Thorin stands in front of Bilbo again
“Well I do have some skill at conkers if you must know. But I fail to see why that’s relevant”
“Thought as much” Thorin crosses his arms seeming disappointed. “He looks more like a grocer than a burglar” his comrades laugh at his comment. “And the other one?” Thorin asks as he turns to walk through the archway where his men have parted for him when he notices me stood directly in front of him.
“What is she doing here?” Thorin asks
“She’s here for the same reason you all are” Gandalf replies
“She’s half elf-” he says sounding infuriated
“She is also half dwarf” Gandalf states calmly
“No, I will not have her accompanying us on this quest” He turns fast to face Gandalf and slightly looks over his shoulder at me.
“I am heading for Erebor whether you allow me to accompany you and your comraids or not. I will travel there myself if I must. I need not you to find my own way home” I say fairly irritated, but I can't deny I knew this would happen.
“I will not be held accountable for your safety. War is no place for women, you’ll only slow us down.”
“I am the only one to be held accountable for my own safety. In sixty years I have learned how to fight for and defend myself, do not belittle me in thinking I need somebody to watch over me like a child.”
“She will be a valuable ally, you’ll need all the help you can get.” Gandalf reasons with him but neither of us remove our gaze from the other “Come, we do not have time for this.”
Thorin walks past me and everyone just stares unsure what to do before following after their leader. I just linger there a little longer now looking at the floor not moving as a feeling of dismay washes over me, and I wish I hadn’t agreed to take up this venture.
Everyone is sitting around the dining table dimly lit by candles as I walk in I hear them talking.
“-With us?” Dwalin asks
“They will not come.” Thorin replies, looking around at his comrades and noticing me as I walk in, giving me a glare, I just look back with a defiant stare before he continues talking. “They say this quest is ours, and ours alone”
“You’re going on a quest” The hobbit asks appearing behind Gandalf.
“Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light” The wizard says. Bilbo complies as Gandalf reaches for something in his pocket. “Far to the east, over ranges and rivers. Beyond woodlands and wastelands” He says as he unfolds a piece of paper and places it on the table. I move closer to get a better look. “Lies a single solitary peak” Bilbo comes back with a candle and looks at a map reading from it.
“The Lonely Mountain”
“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 old return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end” Oin says
“Uh...what beast?” The hobbit asks standing just outside the outside the room
“Well that would be a reference to Smaug the terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks… Extremely fond of precious metals.” Bofur explains
“Yes, I know what a dragon is.” Bilbo replies
“I'm not afraid, I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of the dwarfish iron right up his jacksy!” Ori says standing up
“Sit down.” Dori pulls him back to his seat
“The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest.” Balin says
“Hey! Who you're calling dim!” Ori protests
Fili thumps his hand on the table.
“We may be few in number. But we're fighters. All of us! To the last dwarf!” he declares, again thumping the table.
“And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time.” Kili assumes
“Oh, well no, uh, I- I wouldn't say-” Gandalf stammers
“How many then?” Dori asks
“What?” the wizard asks taken off guard
“Well, how many dragons have you killed?”
Gandalf starts coughing while smoking
“The matter at hand is not how many dragons Gandalf has killed” I state walking towards where the wizard is sitting.
“Go on, give us a number!” Dori pushes
The dwarves erupt into arguing standing from where they sit.
“Uh... S’cuse me- Please, please.” The Hobbit tries speaking over the arguing
"Shazara!" Thorin shouts for silence over the noise of the arguing dwarves as he stands up. The rabble silence and sit back down “If we have read these signs, 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 mountain, 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 seize this chance to take back Erebor?! Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!” To Arms, To Arms!
Cheers erupt from the dwarves.
“You forget the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain.” Balin states
“That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true.” Gandalf says revealing a key.
“How came you by this?” Thorin asks
“It was given to me by your father, By Thráin for safekeeping. It is yours now.” Gandalf says handing the key to Thorin.
“If there is a key... there must be a door!” Fili says
“These runes speak of a hidden passage to the lower halls.” Gandalf says
“There's another way in.” Kili states
“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 others 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're careful and clever, I believe that it can be done.” Gandalf says
“That's why we need a burglar.” Oin says
“Hmm. And a good one too. An expert, I would imagine.” The hobbit says
“And are you?” Gloin asks Bilbo
The hobbit looks behind himself, then realizes he was asked the question
“Am I what?”
“He said he's an expert!” Oin says
“Me? No. No, no, no, no. I- I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life.” Bilbo replies
“And I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material.” Balin says
“Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves.” Dwalin agrees
The dwarves begin arguing once more.
“Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is.” Gandalf says standing up.
“Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. They can pass unseen by most if they so choose to” I say
“Yes, exactly. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of a dwarf, the scent of a hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage.” He faces Thorin and continues speaking while returning to a seated position. “You asked me to find you two more members of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins as one of them.” He looks around at all the dwarves “There's a lot more to him than his appearances suggest. And he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know... including himself.”He directs the last sentence at the hobbit before facing Thorin once more
“And what about her?” Thorin directs at me, with a harsh glare causing all the other dwarves to look at me.
“One more blade against a dragon, if the beast yet lives” I say simply
“You must trust me on this.” The wizard says
Thorin looks directly at Gandalf for a short moment before sighing. “Very well... We'll do it your way.” The hobbit starts protesting
I automatically wish I was in a tavern, I’d most likely end up in a fight but at least I wouldn’t have to put up with degrading comments and distrust.
“Give them a contract.”
“We're in” Bofur says delighted “We're off!”
“It's just the usual: summary about the pocket expenses... time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth.” Balin explains. Thorin takes the contract and passes it over his shoulder to the hobbit.
“Funeral arrangements?” Bilbo asks
Balin then hands another contract to me, which I reach and take looking a little perturbed.
“The same entails” He says. I nod acknowledging what he said.
I walk a little away from the table and start reading through the contract.

"I can not guarantee their safety," I hear Thorin say quietly I stop reading but keep my gaze on the contract.
"Understood" Gandalf says in the same quiet tone
"Nor will I be responsible for their fate" Thorin continued
"Agreed" Gandalf accepts

“total is cash on delivery up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit if any.
The present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof, including, but not limited to... lacerations... evisceration? Incineration?” I hear the hobbit say aloud
“Oh, aye, he’ll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye.” Bofur explains. I look up to see everyone looking at the hobbit who looks a little panicked.
“You alright, laddie?” Balin asks
“Huh? Yeah, I fe-” The hobbit breathes out “Feel a bit faint.” He replies
“Think furnace, with wings.” Bofur tries to calm Bilbo, but I fail to see how his explanations would help.
“I- I- I need air”
“Flash of light, searing pain, and poof! You’re nothing more than a pile of ash!”
“No-” The hobbit faints
“Oh, very helpful, Bofur.” Gandalf says statistically