Daughter of Beorn: The Hobbit Fanfiction

Friendliness in The Shire

Slipping the dagger into my side harness, I knocked on the round door. "I can't believe Gandalf asked me to come on this quest. What was he thinking?" I muttered to myself as I took in the scenery around me. If I had to guess, it was around midnight, evidence being the light of the moon and stars illuminating the Shire. Contradictory to most, I felt more comfortable at nighttime. It was easier to hide.

Seeing that there was no response from the door, I whispered a few obscenities and knocked on it again with a little more force. While I was waiting, I thought about what Gandalf had said about this grand 'quest' I was about to partake in.

All the wizard had revealed to me was that a group of men were going on an adventure to reclaim something they lost long ago. I figured it wouldn't be any harm to check it out. Besides, it's not as if I had anything else to do. As a general outcast to Middle Earth, my schedule wasn't exactly full.

Suddenly the door was thrown open by a small, disheveled-looking creature. He looked me over and groaned. "Gandalf, you said there weren't anymore visitors!" I had to stifle an amused chuckle. Who was this tiny man with such a large personality?

I rolled my eyes as a tall figure peered through the doorway. "Master Baggins, you are putting words in my mouth once more. I did not say there wouldn't be another visitor." I lifted an eyebrow as Gandalf gave the hobbit a knowing look before motioning inside. "Won't you come in, my dear?"

As soon as I entered the room, everything went quiet. That's when I spotted thirteen dwarves all staring at me from the dinner table. Great.

"Who are you?" One of the dwarves growled. I assumed this was Thorin Oakenshield, so I temporarily held my tongue. Normally I just solved physical/verbal conflicts with just a punch or two, but something about this situation told me not to.

"Everyone, may I introduce Kyja, one of the last skin-changers in Middle Earth. She will be accompanying us on our journey to the Mountain." Gandalf announced, placing his hand on my shoulder. A few of the dwarves mumbled their greetings, one blonde dwarf nodding his head politely in my direction. Courtesy from a dwarf? I thought. Impressive.

"These are the dwarves of Erebor." The wizard said, gesturing to each dwarf as he stated their name. "That's Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Nori, Ori, and the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield." I made no effort to memorize the names just yet. I had more important things to remember, and there would be time to remember their names later on.

"I thought skin-changers did not exist." Bofur stated.

"Well you thought incorrectly." I replied coolly. "Amazing how realities change, isn't it?"

A look of surprise passed over each of the dwarves' faces. Either they did not know entirely what a skin-changer was, or I had already offended them. I couldn't give a damn with either outcome, of course. I sighed and leaned against the wall. "Don't mind me, all right? Please- continue." Glancing at Gandalf, I motioned for a change in conversation.

"Ah yes, Bilbo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." Bilbo then brought a candle to the table, where Gandalf had spread out a map which was originally in his pocket. "Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak." He explained.

"The Lonely Mountain." Bilbo murmured.

"Aye, Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it's time." Gloin said, nodding curtly.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." Oin interrupted, staring thoughtfully into the fire.