Heart of Gold 2
Six Months Later“Of all the confounded nonsense? A wizard? A wizard! Indeed!” Bilbo’s distressed cry rang loudly through the hobbit hole. “I have no need of adventure or clot-headed wizards. No need at all!”I lowered my duster from the bookshelf, a slight frown curling my mouth. The Shire had been my home for half a year now and Mr. Baggins had been extraordinarily kind and generous, offering me room and board along with employment.I had not meant to stay this long but I was no closer to developing a plan of action than when I had arrived in Middle Earth and I’d seen hide no hair of that unscrupulous old man since our initial encounter.Setting the duster on a nearby table, I brushed off my hands on the front of my apron and went to find my boss. I discovered him in the foyer, squished up against the wall as if hiding from something. “Sir?”A look of relief crossed Bilbo’s face when he saw me. “Miss Monroe? Have you finished dusting the library?”I put a hand on my hip. “Yes, but what’s going on out here?”The hobbit let out a nervous laugh and tugged at the collar of his shirt. “Ah, nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. Would you go down to the market to buy some fish for supper? The morning catch should be in by now.” He bent over and picked up the scattered mail at his feet.I knew better than to argue when he was like this so I gathered the shopping basket and a small pouch of coins from the study. When the hobbit made up his mind to keep his peace he did so.Since the hobbit hole had a fully stocked pantry and I knew Bilbo had gone down to the market just this morning I was concerned. He had always been a nervous person but this time it was different.I strolled through the crowded market, enjoying the warm spring day and the soft grass against my bare feet. Even in my own world I hated to wear shoes, so living among the hobbits allowed me to embrace that quirk of mine.A gentle breeze carried the sweet perfume of freshly blooming flowers, mixing harmonious with the scent of fresh hay and cooking meat.At the fisherman’s stall I collected two fish wrapped in butcher paper and then moved on. As I leaned over to examine a string of carrots, I recalled what Bilbo had been rambling on about and froze.A wizard?That could only mean one thing. My eyes darted around the teeming crowd of hobbits, searching for a tall figure in a gray pointed hat.I finished my shopping and hurried back home at a quick clip. Dropping the basket on the table, I found Bilbo in the sitting room a book perched on his lap. “Did you say a wizard?”The hobbit startled at my question. “I-uh, yes I did. Why do you ask?”I dropped my gaze. “No reason.”So it was true. The events that occurred in the book were about to take place. I wondered what that would mean for me. Bilbo went on the journey with the dwarven company so I guess I would be stuck tending the house for a year.The thought made me squirm in discomfort. I was grateful for the employment. Truly, I was. But I could not remain here forever. I had some thinking to do.*************************************************************************************Sitting at the bar of the Green Dragon, I nursed my ale listening to the singing and fiddling of the band with half an ear. The hobbits were used to me by now and left me to myself. Night had fallen not long ago so the dwarves would arrive soon. I had the evenings off from my duties and no interest in being caught in the chaos of the company’s arrival.I’d wait here a few hours for things to settle down before going home. Hopefully, I could sneak in and go to bed with no one noticing.I bit a carrot off the prongs of my fork, enjoying my meal.“Old Took! Sit yer arse down! None of us want to listen to that caterwauling a minute longer!” A hobbit shouted across the room to another who weaved unsteadily on his feet and toppled off the table he stood on.The room broke into raucous, good-natured laughter.I ordered another ale to kill some time.A few hours later a barmaid took my empty plate and tankard away. “Can I get you anything else, miss?”I shook my head and dropped a handful of coins on the bar, double counting to make sure I gave her the proper amount. Math was not my strong suit and I’d had to learn a whole new money system when I came to this world. I still made the occasional mistake. “No, I had best be going. Thank you for the terrific meal.”The hobbit smiled in gratitude, sweeping the coins into the side pocket of her apron before bustling off to tend to more customers.A few of the hobbits in the crowd gave me a polite wave of farewell and I returned it on the way out the door. They may have accepted my presence among them, but none had gone out of their way to talk to me either. Bilbo was probably my only friend. I had not expected that, the loneliness. But I’d grown resigned to it.Lifting a travel lantern to light my way, I started the climb up the dark desultory hill to the hobbit hole and bumped into someone.We both went tumbling to the ground in front of the gate, landing in a tangled heap. The person, a male, let out a curse in a deep voice. I rubbed my forehead emitting a groan. Whatever I banged my head into was hard as a boulder.“Would you get off of me?” The male demanded imperiously.Cheeks flushing, I hurried to scramble off him and pick up my fallen lantern. “Sorry about that. I didn’t see you. I don’t have the best night vision.”Or any night vision at all really. My eyes did not adjust well to the dark.“Apparently.” The male tugged at his clothes with short jerky movements, straightening them. “You should be more careful, miss.”I lifted the lantern to see just who I’d bumped into like a doofus and swallowed hard.The weak glow of the lantern illuminated a strong handsome face framed by long hair and a well-kempt beard. A fur-trimmed cloak framed his broad shoulders, he was slightly taller than my 5’2 but not by much. Of all the luck to bowl over the leader of the company like a bowling pin. So, this was Thorin Oakenshield.It had to be him because I could hear the loud voices of several people in Bilbo’s home. Thorin was supposed to arrive late in the story. So much for my plan to be unobtrusive.The dwarf studied me in return, his gazing sweeping over me from head to toe and a faint shiver traveled down my spine under his hard scrutiny. “What is a human woman doing in the Shire?”“Living.” I couldn’t help answering flippantly, mildly irritated by his rudeness. My life was none of his concern.His eyes narrowed slightly at my tone, but he did not break out into one of his famous bellows as I half-expected. “Is this the residence of Mr. Bilbo Baggins?”“Yes.” I swung the handle of the lantern idly in my hand. “As it happens, I am Bilbo’s housekeeper. Adelaide Monroe.”The dwarf bowed briefly at the waist, polite but without one jot of respect. “Thorin Oakenshield, at your service, my lady. I believe your employer is expecting me?”I raised a brow. “If he wasn’t before I’m sure he is now.” I motioned for him to follow me through the front gate and eased the door open. “Oh, looks like they’ve set up camp in the dining room.”A group of dwarves and Gandalf were seated around the dining table conversing in low voices. I studied the wizard, noticing his drab gray robes and something clicked into place in my head. The stranger in the park, who sent me here, must have been a wizard. He had worn a similar robe and carried a staff.I straightened my shoulders and prepared to enter the dining room and demand answers. If anyone could find a way for me to get home, it was Gandalf.Before I could confront the wizard, Bilbo staggered in front of me with a strained look on his face. “Miss Monroe, good. Would get a bowl of stew and some bread for our latest, ah, guest?”Though it was my night off, I took pity on the hobbit and went into the kitchen to cobble something together before the poor creature had a coronary.The sight of the ransacked pantry was more shocking in person and easily comparable to the sacking of Rome. I bristled as I looked at the dishes stacked crookedly on the counter and the empty tankards in the sink. I was not cleaning up after them. I rummaged around and managed to scrounge up a loaf of bread the dwarves missed in their pillaging and cut it into slices and ladled stew into a clean bowl.When I returned to the dining room, I set the food before Thorin and went to lean against the wall, eager to see what would unfold next.I received a few curious glances and good manners propelled Bilbo to introduce me to the company. “This is my housekeeper Adelaide Monroe.”That started a round of introductions from the dwarves, each of them giving their names in turn.“Nice to meet you, lass.” Bofur saluted me with his pipe, the flaps on his sheepskin hat fluttering with the movement.“What’s a human maid doing in these parts?” Kili asked, the question followed by a chorus of agreement.“Aye, tis strange.” His brother Fili remarked.Well, there was no better opening to speak to Gandalf. I turned to the wizard, the faintest spark of hope blooming in my chest. “I believe I met a colleague of yours six months back.”The wizard raised his scraggly eyebrows and braced his arms on the table. “Is that so? Did he give you his name?”I shook my head. “No, but he was dressed in blue robes and carried a staff.”“One of the blue wizards. I have not seen either of them for an age.” Gandalf murmured thoughtfully. “This cannot be a coincidence.”I wish he would enlighten me. “The thing is, this wizard friend of yours has caused me some trouble. He took me from my home and dumped me here in the Shire.”Bilbo startled at that. I had not spoken with him about my past at all. This was the first he was hearing of it. I prayed he wouldn’t be too angry with me. I had my reasons for keeping quiet, mainly because I did not want him to think I was crazy.“Speak plainly, my dear.” The wizard instructed, a hint of impatience in his tone. “I must know if he left a message for me.”Which is ironic since Gandalf rarely spoke with any sort of clarity. “Actually, I think he did.”I left the room briefly to retrieve the piece of paper I discovered in my jeans’ pocket shortly after arriving in Middle Earth. It was written in a foreign language I couldn’t read. Gandalf took the note carefully, smoothing it out on the table. The edges of the paper were softened from months of me worrying at it with my fingers as I’d tried in vain to translate the document.Hunching over the paper, Gandalf muttered to himself as he scanned the runic script. “Another world….” He peered up at me with sharp blue eyes and I flinched. “I believe I understand. The blue wizard would not have brought you here without purpose.”I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation. “So what is that purpose?”“I do not know. I suspect only time will reveal what your purpose is, Adelaide Monroe.” He rolled up the paper and set it aside. “But I know what to do with you.”Butterflies squirmed in my stomach. “And what is that?”Gandalf turned to Thorin expression resolute. “For a quest such as this I think a scribe is in order and according to the blue wizard Miss Monroe is a wordsmith.”“Out of the question. I am prepared to take on the hobbit as my burglar but there is no need for a scribe as well.” Thorin said in his deep gravelly voice.I caught on to what they were talking about. “You want me to go on the quest?” Horror filled me as I recalled the obstacles the company faced in the story: goblins, orcs, dragons, and armies. “No, absolutely not. There’s no way I could possibly do that!”“How would you know without even trying?” Gandalf snapped. “Men are quite adaptable and clever when they want to be.”So, the wizard thought I was being stupid? I snorted. As far as I was concerned, I was the only one here with an ounce of commonsense! “Even so, I do not want to join this fiasco! All I wanted was a little inspiration for my writing and this is the price I pay? No thanks!”A round of agreement filled the room, the dwarves’ voices clambering for supremacy.“Enough!” Thorin roared, slamming his hand on the table hard enough to rattle the dishes in front of him. “A human has no place on this quest. Especially not a woman with no fighting skills.”I glared at him. What a misogynist! I was half-tempted to agree now out of spite!The room suddenly darkened and the wizard grew large. “Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves! If I say the quest needs a scribe, then a scribe there will be!”A tense silence followed Gandalf’s outburst. My gaze swept the crowd. Most of the dwarves refused to meet my eyes but Kili gave me a friendly wink. Given I knew what lay ahead, I did not smile back.The wizard huffed and settled back in his chair. Even Thorin did not argue further though I could tell he was displeased by the added burden of my existence.Breathing heavily, Thorin slapped his map onto the table. “Give the hobbit and the woman a contract.” He ordered, pointing at Balin.The old dwarf passed down a document in my direction. I held the contract with reverence, remembering this scene from the book. Unfolding the document, I read carefully, including the fine print about death-by-dragon.Balin noticed my hesitation. “Is there a problem lass?”“Yes, I don’t want any of your treasure.” I refolded the paper. “So, I don’t need to sign this.”The dwarves all gaped at me like I was an alien from outer space.“You don’t want anything?” Kili remarked incredulous.“No gold?” Fili echoed.“Or jewels?” Bofur added.“Just a way home.” I said softly.“Well, perhaps you’ll find that if you go on the quest!” Gandalf said impatiently, fed up with my reticence. “Sign the contract! I’m sure Balin can include an addendum to the effect of your wishes!”I suspected if I did not sign the contract nothing could convince the company to let me join them when they were so distrustful of outsiders.They did not trust me. Well, I did not trust them either. I hesitated, before carefully signing my name with a quill pen, feeling like I was also signing my life away. Given the dangers ahead, that might be the case, but it was the risk I had to take to find a way home. Hanging around in the Shire was getting me no closer to my goal so I had to take a step forward.Balin took out a jeweler’s glass from his pocket and examined my signature before offering a thin-lipped smile. “Welcome to the company, Miss Monroe.”Thorin gave me a mildly suspicious look before spreading the map out flat on the table. While the dwarves laid out their travel plans, I retreated to my room to pack.From the wardrobe I pulled out my earth clothes; an oversized hoodie, jeans, a winter coat and boots. They were the sturdiest clothes I had. The cast offs from Bilbo’s mother I’d been wearing were not suitable for travel. Still, I packed two of the dresses just in case, tossing in a hairbrush, and other sundry toiletries. I tossed my canister of mace in last, half wishing I’d used it on the blue wizard to protect myself. I should have. It was the whole reason I’d carried it in my pocket.Then I changed into my nightgown, ready for bed.*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************Soon, the house grew quiet as the guests drifted off into slumber. Sleep rebuked me, no matter how many times I repositioned myself on the bed searching for a comfortable spot. My mind was too busy racing with what I had learned about the blue wizard and myself. I was not special. I had nothing of value to offer these people. Back home I was a thirty-two-year-old adjunct professor of history barely scraping by while trying to write a novel.Who was Gandalf kidding? I did not belong here.Lighting a candle, I crouched in front of the mirror on the wall and studied my reflection, brown eyes wide and anxious as I wondered if I should cut my hair. Short hair would be practical for traveling. My hand paused over a pair of shears, but I didn’t have the heart to snip away the thick auburn waves. I’d spent far too long growing out my hair to ruin it now.Shaking my head, I ambled off to kitchen to make a cup of chamomile, hoping the tea would soothe me enough to rest. While the kettle boiled, I padded into the living room, pulling up short when I saw Thorin sitting before the fire. He looked up at my approach.“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you. I couldn’t sleep so I’m making some tea. Do you want some?” I babbled nervously, conscious of the fact I stood before him with my hair down in my nightgown. Middle Earth had a completely different standard of propriety and I’d broken unspoken social rules more than once in my forgetfulness.“No. I’m fine, thank you.” He crossed his arms over his chest and scrutinized me with an unreadable expression. “This quest will be dangerous. It is not wise for you to accompany us.”I tried not to get angry when I knew Thorin was speaking from a sincere place. He really thought I was a liability. I didn’t disagree.“You don’t need to sell me on how risky this is.” I took a shuddering breath before continuing. “I’m aware of it. Truth be told, I’m terrified. However, when wizards get involved in your life, you can’t help but be pushed out the door.”He walked over to me and his blue eyes peered sharply into my own. “I don’t pretend to understand your reasons, but I know its unwise to meddle in the affairs of wizards or Men.” His hand curled into a fist and a bitter look crossed his face. “I will reclaim Erebor. That is the only reason for this quest.”“I…don’t know what I can do. Though I will help if I can.” The kettle whistled shrilly, and I turned around. “I have to take care of that. Are you sure you don’t want a cup?”“No, you go on. Get some rest, Miss Monroe. We have a long day ahead tomorrow.”
DragonQueen86