[IC] The Hobbit/LOTR: Another Age of Evil Beginnings { Elven & Angel }

[The Elvenqueen]

"Just relax, Maleficent." Gandalf shook his head to the strange female. "You are not doing yourself any favors by being so afraid constantly. You will never break free from your past if you cannot let it go."

[AngelBites15]

As much as Maleficent wanted to hide, she knew she couldn't hide forever, especially from the likes of Thorin Oakinsheild. She made herself known, but kept her wings closed tightly against her body. "So, this is the hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?", the new dwarf asked the Hobbit. "Pardon me?" "Axe or sword, what’s your weapon of choice?" "Well, I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know. But I fail to see why that’s relevant" "I thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar", this made the other dwarves laugh.

[The Elvenqueen]

Bilbo seemed put off by the dwarf's scathing comment, and in truth it hurt his feelings somewhat though he knew he couldn't let it show, so he simply shuffled past them and made his way to his armchair.

"Now that everyone is here, come, let us discuss things." Gandalf directed the others left in the hallway towards the dining room where the other dwarves were still waiting.

[AngelBites15]

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" "Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms" "And what did the dwarves of the Iron Hill say? Is Dain with us?" "They will not come", visibly upset they all were, even Maleficent who sat beside Gandalf, but she kept a good distance from Thorin. She wasn't afraid of the dwarf, but she didn't want to cross him if they ever mentioned his father, whom she killed during her corruption. "They say this quest is ours, and ours alone" "You’re doing a quest?", Bilbo piped in.

[The Elvenqueen]

"Far to the east, over hills and ranges, sits a single solitary peak." Gandalf explained as Thorin unfurled the map on the table.
Bilbo peered over the dwarf's shoulder and read the label scrawled under the diagram of the single mountain peak. "The Lonely Mountain..."

[AngelBites15]

"I figured", Maleficent thought aloud. "One of the last dwarven kingdoms of Middle Earth. Encased in a mountain, famed of its enormous treasure. Currently guarded by the great Smaug the Terrible", she said in grim when she looked over to the map. "Far into the Misty Moutains, it would be across Laketown, and from there, the dark woods of Mirkwood itself", she added when one of her finger cuffs trailed over the map in the directions she described. "If you're wondering, I've been there. I saw the dragon, I saw the treasure, I saw the darkness, and also, the sickness".

[The Elvenqueen]

"Dragon?" Bilbo's face paled a little at the thought of such a gigantic beast. Turning to Gandalf accusingly, the hobbit jabbed a finger up at the wizard. "And you want to drag me into this?!"
"Now Bilbo, calm down..." Gandalf protested. "Just hear the plan out first."

[AngelBites15]

"Yes, dear Bilbo", the winged fae answered him. "Airborne fire breather, a beast with razor sharp teeth and claws, with an extremely precious nature of anything metal" "Yes, I know what a dragon is", he stated back to her as if it was obvious. She didn't flinch, of course, since everyone knew what a dragon was. One dwarf named Ori, suddenly stands to his feet. "I’m not afraid, I’m up for it. I’ll give him a taste of the dwarfish iron right up his jacksy!", the dwarves cheered him on. "Sit down!" "The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number just thirteen, and not thirteen of the best, nor brightest" "Hey! Who are you calling dim?" This caused everyone to talk at the same time. A huge thump silenced them as Maleficent's finger cuffs were slammed into the table, leaving trailing holes behind from the impact. Her anger was not to be underestimated, but she tries to control since she has been through something terrible. It was traumatizing, but who was there to blame? "One at a time", she told them before the cuff left the pigment of the wooden table. "We may be few in number. But we’re fighters, all of us! To the last dwarf!", Fili told them with determination. "And you forget we have a wizard in our company, Gandalf would have killed hundreds of dragons in his time", his brother piped in. It amused the winged female to see these two together. For some reason, she felt close to them, spiritually. She did remember some parts of her past life, but she couldn't complete the puzzle by herself. She did remember their mother Dis back then, before she was corrupted. But the question remains, why did she feel so close?

[The Elvenqueen]

At Kili's question, Gandalf fell awkwardly silent and simply smoked his pipe.
"Well? Give us a number!" one of the dwarves demanded, which sent the others into a frenzy again when they got no reply. This time it was Thorin who silenced the group by leaping to his feet and shouting out a command in Khazdul, thumping his fist sharply on the table.
When the noise died down, his gaze travelled to each of the dwarves before him as he spoke again. "I would take each and every one of you over an army from the Iron Hills...because when I called upon you, you answered. Loyalty, courage, and a willing heart. I can ask no more than that."

[AngelBites15]

"The dragon Smaug has not been seen for the last sixty years. Eyes look East to the mountain. They assess, wonder, and weigh on that risk. The vast wealth of your people, now lies unprotected. We're not sitting back while others claim what is rightfully yours. Use this as a chance to take back Erebor. And claim its great treasure", Maleficent couldn't believe what she was saying. She was actually agreeing with their leader, surprisingly. She looked at the leader. "Use it, and find the Arkenstone", she added to him.

[The Elvenqueen]

"For such a task, we would need a burglar." Gandalf pointed out, looking in Bilbo's direction then. The hobbit let out a loud breath and frowned at the wizard.
"And I have made it clear to you I'll have no part in this 'adventure' business."

[AngelBites15]

"You forget the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain", Balin interrupted her. "That, dear Balin, is not entirely true", the female said before she reached into her suit, taking out what seems to be a key. "You will need this", she said to Thorin, holding it out to him.

[The Elvenqueen]

"How came you by this?" Thorin eyed the strange female warily, though the dwarf prince was quick to pluck the key from her grasp as it was rightfully his, therefore he should be the one to hold and carry it.

[AngelBites15]

"It was..given..to me, by your father, Thrain, for safekeeping. I was to be trusted with it. Keep it, it's yours", she did hesitate on the first part. She hated to lie, but it was worse to be truthful. She killed Thrain, and took it for her own as memorable trinket; this was what she told Gandalf when he rescued her from the dark enchantment. "If there is a key, there must be a door!", Fili pointed out as he looked at the map in the distance.

[The Elvenqueen]

"There is, but we'd have a task of finding it. Dwarf doors are invisible when closed, we'd never find it if we don't know where to look." Gandalf explained.

[AngelBites15]

"...and the answer is hidden somewhere on this map. We don't have the skill to find it, but there are others who can. The task will require a great deal of stealth, and no courage. But if we’re careful and clever, I believe that it can be done", Maleficent explained to them. "That’s why we need a burglar", Ori agreed.

[The Elvenqueen]

"And a darn good one I'd imagine." Bilbo agreed with a nod of confirmation, placing his hands on his hips. "An expert, at that."
"He said he's an expert!" Oin exclaimed in delight, suddenly pleased with Gandalf's choice as with his bad hearing he had obviously misheard the hobbit's statement.
"Wha-? No, No! I'm not a burglar, I'm a hobbit!" Bilbo protested vehemently, "I'm sorry, but you'll have to find somebody else!"

[AngelBites15]

"And I’m afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He’s hardly burglar material", Balin commented. "Aye, the wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves", Dwalin agreed. Soon, the dwarves all started speaking over each other.

[The Elvenqueen]

Having had enough of all this squabbling and bickering over Bilbo's suitability for the task, Gandalf finally lost his temper and decided to remind this company of dwarves of the true nature of his power, just to be clear on the matter. The wizard rose quickly to his feet as the room darkened and his voice boomed through the walls loudly.
"ENOUGH! If I say Bilbo Baggins is our burglar, then our burglar he is!" with a slight sigh under his breath, Gandalf released the power he had summoned and returned the light to the room, his expression softening slightly.
"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, they can pass unseen by most should they choose to. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company, and I have chosen Mr. Baggins. There’s a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he’s got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this."

"....Very well." Thorin conceded, although somewhat reluctantly, as he glowered up at the wizard. "We will do it your way."
"No, no, no!" Bilbo tried to protest, though it appeared it would do no good, as Thorin simply ignored him, his gaze turning to Balin, the oldest looking dwarf of the company.
"Give him the contract."

[AngelBites15]

"Orin. We’re off!" "Please" Balin rises to his feet, holding the contract, reading off of it. "It’s just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements, so forth", he passes it to Bilbo. "Funeral arrangements?", he opens the contract and starts reading it. As he is reading the contract, Thorin whispers to Gandalf, "I cannot guarantee his safety", already feeling wary and skeptical about having a Hobbit along on a perilous journey.