Evelyn had been in the land, Middle Earth, for fifty-one years now. At sixty-eight she was still as stubborn as she was when she was younger. Ember had grown even larger through the years and could easily carry two, if not three, horses. The Rider had built a small cabin in a clearing that had been their home through the years. So far, no one had bothered the pair except for a wizard named Gandalf the Grey, who visited quite often.
Both rider and dragon were hesitant to trust the old man, but when he saved her life, they formed a spectacular bond. He quite enjoyed watching Evelyn practice her magic and would even spar with her every now and then, though he was never able to truly best her.
Not long after Gandalf's last visit, he returned to her cabin and asked the two if they would be interested in an adventure. When they agreed, he gave them directions to Bag End in the Shire, but advised for Ember to remain unseen and for Evelyn to keep her magic to a minimum unless it was absolutely necessary. Ember was rather reluctant to stay away from her Rider, but agreed nonetheless.
That's how Evelyn could be found walking down the path up to Bag End while Ember stayed back in the woods, ready to fly in should anything appear threatening.
"I don't like this," Ember grumbled and her disapproval radiated through Evelyn's mind.
"Neither do I," Evelyn admitted. She hated being apart from Ember for too long and tapped the hilt of her sword in anticipation of meeting the group of dwarves and the hobbit. She had no idea what a hobbit was, but if the dwarves were anything like the ones from home, then she felt like she would get along just fine.
She finally managed to find the correct door by the glowing sign carved into it and raised her hand, rapping her knuckles on the door. She could hear talking die down and smiled when Gandalf opened the door. "Good evening, fricai," she greeted and twisted her hand over her heart, bowing slightly.
Gandalf chuckled and welcomed the girl into the house. She had never met a hobbit before but had heard of their short stature, so it came as a pleasant surprise when she didn't have to duck her head to avoid hitting it on anything. She looked around to see twelve dwarves staring at her. She bowed her head to them.
"It is a pleasure to meet some of the knurlan of Middle Earth," she said sincerely. "Evelyn, at your service."
Some of the dwarves arched their eyebrows, clearly shocked at her knowledge of Dwarvish, however different it may be from Khuzdul.
"Pleasure to meet you as well, lass," a white haired one said with a kind smile. "Balin, at your service."
From there it went down the line as each of the dwarves stood from their seats to introduce themselves.
The two who she had learned to be Fili and Kili, quite troublemakers from what she could see in their eyes, scooted to where they were on either side of her. "You don't look like a human yet you do," Kili began.
"And you don't look like an elf yet you do," Fili finished as they peered at her.
Evelyn let out a quiet laugh as she heard Ember in her mind warning her to be careful of the information she let out.
"I am human, Master Dwarves, but I went through the blödhren celebration," Evelyn explained and twirled her necklace slightly. "I could also be considered dwarf since my foster father is Hrothgar, who was Grimstnzborith of the dwarves in my homeland."
Some of the older dwarves looked at Evelyn before bowing their heads respectfully. "It is an honor to have you with us then."
"My thanks," Evelyn said quietly and the dwarves continued to move tables around, often catching them throwing curious glances at her.
The woman's eyes closed and she leaned back in her chair, to anyone else it would seem as though she were relaxing or taking a small nap but she was really having a conversation with Ember.
"I do not like being apart from you," Ember grumbled once more.
"I do not like it either, but Gandalf said they wouldn't react positively to a dragon," Evelyn tried to convince. She wouldn't be able to bare it if anything happened to the dragon. "I don't think I would be able to handle it."
"For you then, little one," Ember conceded reluctantly, though her distaste was still clear through their bond. "But if I feel you are in any danger whatsoever I will fly in and carry you off with my claws. Let the dwarves think I obtained a snack."
Evelyn snorted and quickly ended the connection when she felt Gandalf approaching her. "Gandalf, how may I help you?"
Gandalf stopped before chuckling and sitting beside her, lighting his pipe and blowing a smoke ring. "It still never fails to entertain me how you know it is I approaching."
"Your footfalls are lighter then that of dwarves, that's a noticeable difference. The only reason I didn't believe it to be the hobbit is because I've grown used to your aura. Not to mention he's busy running after dwarves."
Gandalf nodded and watched in amusement as Bilbo was running after a dwarf with some chair.
~~~~~~~
It wasn't long before everyone was seated at the table. Food was flying everywhere from the dwarves' antics. She was hit in the head quite often, but she couldn't find herself growing angry. She had spent far too long with Orik and the other dwarves from Farthen Dur to be surprised. She even joined in on throwing food when they tried throwing it in Bombur's mouth.
Everyone cheered when Bofur made it and Fili jumped on the table holding almost a bouquet of ale.
"Oh, you great galumphing git!" Dwalin laughed, taking one.
"Who wants an ale?" Fili called, passing them out as he walked along the table. "There you go."
"Two over here, brother!" Kili called from his seat next to Evelyn who eagerly took one of the cups.
"I said have another drink!" Dwalin said loudly to Oin. "Here you go." He poured a drink down Oin's ear trumpet and Oin started slightly before blowing in it and making the drink shoot out.
"Ale on the count of three!" Bofur shouted and both Fili and Kili grabbed Evelyn's arm, that was holding the drink, to make her join in.
"One!" Kili shouted over everyone. "Two! Up!"
With that, Evelyn quickly began guzzling down her ale, noticing for the first time how quiet it was. She finished hers rather quickly and slammed it on the table. Earning cheers from everyone after they all had a belching contest.
"I knew you had it in ya!" Bofur laughed and slapped Evelyn on the back, other dwarves following in suit.
She stood up to stand next to Gandalf, lighting her own pipe, trying not to chuckle at Ember's amusement to her drinking. She slammed her back against the door when a plate flew by, curtesy of Fili.
"Excuse me!" Bilbo cried. "That's my mother's West Farthing pottery, its over a hundred years old!" The hobbit ran to the dining room. "And can you not do that? You'll blunt them."
"Ooh. Do you hear that, lads?" Bofur's voice rang out. "He says we'll blunt the knives."
"Blunt the knives, bend the forks," Kili sang out.
"Smash the bottles and burn the corks," Fili continued.
"Chip the glasses and crack the plates," the rest of the dwarves joined in and Evelyn found herself watching in amusement as plates and everything else flew by her.
"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Cut the cloth, tread the fat
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat
Pour the milk on the pantry floor
Splash the wine on every door
Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl
Pound them up with a thumping pole
When you're finished, if they are whole
Send them down the hall to roll
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
By the end of the song, everyone was standing near the dining room while sipping on ale or smoking a pipe. Evelyn fell into the latter group. Everyone was chuckling in amusement when Bilbo ran forward to see all his dishes cleaned and stacked neatly on his table.
Three loud knocks being pounded on the door interrupted the merriment and everyone grew serious as they all turned to the door.
"He is here," Gandalf said seriously.