(Elena)

Bilbo sits at his chair, shivering and clutching a mug "I'll be alright, just let me sit quietly for a moment."

Sitting in another chair across from him, I look from Bilbo to Gandalf who is less than happy. The grey wizard snaps gazing down at him, a look of disappointment in his eyes "You've been sitting quietly for far too long. When did doilies and your mother's dishes become so important to you?"

Bilbo remains quite as Gandalf comes over sitting beside of me "I remember a young hobbit who was always running off in search of elves in the woods. He'd stay out late, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young hobbit who would have liked nothing better than to find out what was beyond the borders of the Shire."

Still ignoring him Bilbo stares down into his mug. Obviously, he's reflecting on his childhood, but sitting here now I can tell Bilbo is not the same Hobbit Gandalf speaks of. I can't blame him for hesitation.

I chime in "Gandalf, you didn't tell me that I would be accompanying dwarves on some long journey. And you also failed to mention I'd have to slay a DRAGON."

The wizard groans rubbing his temples "No-I...Elena, Thorin Oakenshield is the leader of the dwarves. He is the King I spoke of. He is your only chance of returning."

Running my hand through my hair I grumble feeling the impending departure of this perilous journey "Gandalf, what if they go, slay the dragon, and then Bilbo and I join you later?"

"Yes, I-I agree with that." Bilbo stammers.

Shooting the Hobbit, a cross look, the wizard places his hand on mine "My dear girl, you do not yet understand, but you will. These dwarves will need you."

I scoff "Need me? Gandalf, they barely think anything of me. And Thorin...he HATES me Gandalf. He looks at me like I'm this disgusting little-human-bLLeeuUACH!"

Gandalf chuckles slightly holding my hand in his "Elena, the dwarves will come around. Do not fear Thorin Oakenshield. He is not as bad as he seems. Any negative feelings he has towards your presence is my doing. Not yours. He will soon learn as well in due time."

Nodding I feel the warmth of hope again. The small Hobbit hole brings comfort, but from the shimmering light of the moon outside creeping into the glass window, I know my destiny awaits. Going out into this world on a journey is something I dreamed of doing as a child. Bilbo was not the only young kid trailing in mud and fireflies into his home.

Looking to Bilbo I shrug, and he shakes his head "No! No, I cannot just go running off into the blue. I am a Baggins....*gulp*..of Bag-End."

Gandalf grumbles at the Hobbits stubbornness "You are also a Took! Did you know your great-great grandfather was large enough that he could ride a real horse?"

"...Yes."

"Well he could!" Gandalf shouts "He led the charge against the Goblin hoard. Swung his club and knocked the Goblin King's head off and it fell down a rabbit hole. And thus the battle was won....and the game of golf invented at the same time."

I stifle my laugh "I think you made that up."

Gandalf smirks "Well, all good stories deserve a little embellishment." Looking from Bilbo to me he has a twinkle in his eyes "You'll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you come back."

Bilbo's face turns serious "Can you promise that I will come back?"

Gandalf's face falls. He looks to me and the look on his face sends shivers down my spine. I know that look. I've never seen it for myself before, but I know it. Like a sixth scenes. He shakes his head morbidly "No. But if you do, you will not be the same."

Scoffing Bilbo gets up from his chair "That's what I thought. I'm sorry, Gandalf, but I can't sign this. You've got the wrong hobbit."

Bilbo leaves the contract on the mantle and exits the sitting room. Gandalf watches him leave, disappointed. Quickly I stand "Bilbo, please!"

Watching the Hobbit disappear into his room I slump into my seat. The two choices bounce back and forth in my mind. If I risk the journey and we succeed I get to go home, but if we fail, I die. Adrenaline courses through my body and I shake nervously. Looking up into the hallway I see Thorin and Balin conversing. The older dwarf's eyes meet mine and he gives a warm smile. However, in his eyes I can see the pain. All the turmoil and loss he's experienced in his life. What they've all experienced.

"The dragon...he destroyed their home, didn't he?"

Gandalf, now puffing on his tobacco pipe nods "Yes."

"Did he kill their people? Kill their friends and families?"

The silence filling the room answers my question. As my eyes scan the dwarves out in the hall and other rooms, my heart swells in pity. Tears nearly brim in my eyes thinking of what it must have been like to have your family and home ripped from you.

Standing to my feet I turn to the grey wizard. He awaits my answer but smiles as if he knows the response. I smirk "Okay, I'm in, but on one condition."

Gandalf raises a brow "And what would that be?"

"If we fail, you have to do something for me."

(Thorin)

Balin and I watch the conversation unfold from the hallway. As Bilbo enters his bedroom Elena jumps to her feet "Bilbo, please!"

As he disappears Balin sighs "It appears we have lost our burglar. Probably for the best. The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy-makers; hardly the stuff of legend."

I smile "There are a few warriors amongst us."

"Old warriors." He says defeated.

"I will take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty, honor, a willing heart; I can ask no more than that."

Balin looks back into the sitting room "Well, perhaps your getting more of a willing heart than we realize."

I watch him smile and know he is looking to the girl in the other room. Closing my eyes, I shake my head leaning against the wall. Balin senses my distress "She needs our help Thorin."

I clench my teeth in aggravation "Balin, we do not know this girl. If she embarks on this journey with us she will either hinder it or get killed as soon as she steps out into the wild!"

Balin nods "Yes, but, its a chance she's willing to take. We are not the only ones far from home."

Looking over my shoulder at the girl I see her expression. Her eyes look distressed and fearful. Her face nearly looks as grave as mine did all those years ago when I knew the mountain was lost to us. Balin leans forward "You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built us a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor."

Withdrawing the Dwarvish key from my pocket I hold it out for Balin to see "From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me."

Balin nods in agreement "Then we are with you, laddie. We'll see it done." With a deep sigh, Balin places a supportive hand on my shoulder and we walk into the living room with the roaring fire.

All dwarves sit around the fire in the dark sitting room. They hum that familiar somber tune Smoking my pipe near the mantle, I begin to sing "Far over the Misty Mountain cold, to dungeons deep and caverns old, we must away ere break of day to find our long-forgotten gold."

The rest of the dwarves rise from their seats, joining in with me.

"The pines were roaring on the height, the winds were moaning in the night, the fire was red, its flaming spread, the trees like torches blazed with light." Gandalf stands near the window, staring out and listening to the song. Elena sits next to him, her eyes looking empathetically to us all. As the notes and tones of our voices rise and fall her eyes grow heavy and I watch as she falls asleep.