269Alright, i'm only going to do this whole disclaimer and all once, so here it is. Disclaimer: I do NOT own any characters from The Hobbit. Everything that's familiar belongs to the director of the movie or J.R.R Tolkien. I will be mixing together the movie and the book because both are absolutely awesome. The only thing i own is my OC Sephira and any minor changes in dialog or anything else. And i apologize ahead of time if any of the characters are OOC.
And on another note, please Review if you have any comments or anything to say! Critisism (If it's not hateful and rude) is always welcome!
Sephira stood in the very front of the group of dwarves, her black cloak hanging off her shoulders and a goofy smile on her face. The company of dwarves was so much better than her own kin. Especially these dawrves. They were far more entertaining. Should have heard them laugh when Sephira told them why she was running to catch up to them. They had a good laugh. And then a rather lengthy conversation about two certain dwarves that should have known better. Of course, there was one in the company that agreed with the two for leaving her behind, but he was a young dwarf and thought it cruel to make a woman come on a journey like this. He got an elbow to the gut from his brother. And then another lecture on why it didnt really matter that she was a woman. Her race, the Fae race, trained all of their people in combat and weaponry, starting at a young age.
Sephira had been weilding a sword and other various weapons since she was six. And she had been living amongst the dwarves for the better part of her seventy two years of life. Her family had been close friends with Thror and his son Thrain, and then his son Thorin. They would travel there quite often just to visit the king and the heir of the throne. When Sephira was in her early teen years, her parents died during a trip to visit Thorin and his sister-sons. An orc pack. The rest of her kind never were too fond of her.
Too wild and mischievious for the other Fae. Not to mention they never approved of her families association with the dwarves. So she took to travelling. Met up with old family friends. She's spent the best parts of her life with the dwarves, and had grown up with two certain dwarves. The same two who thought it wise to leave her while they embark on an adventure with their uncle.
"I hope they open the door soon. I'm starving." the large, round dwarf of the group grumbled.
"You're always starving." Bofur said with a roll of his eyes. Sephira reached out and rang the bell twice before dropping her arm back to her side. She didnt need her sensative ears to hear the grumbled, annoyed shouts from inside. Saying things like "No, there is one too many dwarves in my kitchen already!" and "I'm sorry, but you will just have to leave." He was in the middle of shouting something else when the door flew open. The wiggling and excited dwarves that had been pressing up and shoving into Sephira were all caught off gaurd, and each one of them fell inside the open door, Sephira at the bottum. A rather heavy and round Bombur on top of her.
"Owww. Bombur..." Sephira groaned. Bless his heart he was a large dwarf. Sephira would have to remind him later to lay off the sweets. He grumbled an apology, but that didnt stop his wiggling as he tried to righten himself. A hard task to do when there were other dwarves piled on your legs all wiggling and squirming to get up right.
"I know that voice." a familiar voice stated, no doubt a smirk to his tones. A pair of rather large and hairy feet were in front of her, and she couldnt help but wrinkle her nose. All her time with dwarves, she got used to a lot of things. Large, hairy feet was not one of them.
"Up you go Bombur." another familiar voice grunted as the heavy weight was lifted off of her. And before Sephira really had a chance to breath in or hop to her feet, two strong hands were grabbing her and she soon found herself on her two feet, staring up into the bright blue eyes of one of her favorite dwarves. His eyes were dancing with amusement, his lips stretched into a huge grin that made his yellow braided mustache swing.
"Kili, look who it is!" he called cheerily, eyes not leaving Sephira's smokey gray ones. Kili glanced up from helping to straighten Bombur, his eyes going to his brother and the small woman he had in his grasp. A smile lit up his face, a brow arching.
"I thought we told her to stay at home!" he called back.
"Aye, so did I." Fili responded. Sephira rolled her eyes, pulling out of his grasp at the same time that she was unclasping her cloak and swishing it off of her, tossing it to the side without a care.
"You did." she stated blandly, undoing her leather belt that held her sword and daggers, thrusting it to the side and into the arms of a stunned hobbit. The same thing happened with her bow and quiver of arrows. "Careful with those Mister Boggins- or is it Baggins? I hadnt heard him correctly- You break them and you'll buy me a replacement." Sephira said.
"Speaking of, Sephira, at your service." she said, giving a curtsey to the stunned hobbit. She admitted, it probably looked a little strange, curtseying while dressed in her attire. She may as well have bowed. She was dressed in a pair of loose fitting black breeches, a white long sleeved top with a large leather peice that wrapped around the majority of her torso with silver buckles on it, and a pair of knee high black boots that were like a second pair of skin. Not the normal dresses a woman should wear, especially while curtseying. Oh well. Sephira spent most of her life in breeches and a shirt. Not those uncomfortable dresses her parents tried to force her to wear. While they were still alive of course.
"Bilbo Baggins, at yours." the hobbit responded, though he didnt bow. Probably wise. If he had, Sephira's weapons would have fallen to the floor, and he did not want to deal with her rath if they got broken. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Or just an upset woman in general. A scary thing to behold, no matter the race.
"Not to say I'm not happy to see you.." Fili began as he flanked Sephira on the left, who was making her way to the kitchen in search of something to drink. Preferably some ale or wine.
"Because you are certainly a sight for sore eyes." Kili quipped, taking place at her right.
"But we told you to stay home." Fili finished for the both of them. Sephira shrugged, easily hopping over a run away barrel of ale and grabbed a free wooden cup. They couldnt honestly have thought she would have stayed home, could they? Surely, after all the years of knowing her, they'd realize she didnt listen very well. Especially when they told her she had to stay put while they went out on an adventure of some sort.
"Aye, you did." she agreed, filling the cup with water. She'd have ale in a moment, after all the tables were done being moved to make room for all of them. "But the two of you forgot to tie me up. Only way to garauntee that i wouldnt be after you the moment you left." she added, smirking at the two of them.
"Dont think we didnt want to." Fili grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. Kili nodded.
"It was the first thing that came to mind. But unfortunately we only had rope." he tossed in helpfully.
For any one else, that would have been perfect. What else would you use to tie one up? But Fili and Kili had tried it before, when they were all a lot younger and Fili felt it was too dangerous to have Sephira with them when they snuck into the woods to see what all the growling and screams were about. She refused to stay home, and they couldnt very well go and tell Thorin to keep a watch on her. It would give way to their plan to sneak out. So they tied her up with rope and left her in the room. Not even five minutes after Fili and Kili had snuck into the woods, out popped Sephira with an angry flush and the frayed rope in her tiny little hands. No, rope would certainly not do to keep her in place.
A seed cake flew into the room, and Sephira's hand shot up and caught it right before it could hit her in the side of the head. She peered at it for a moment before glancing up at a passing Bombur, who had a plate of cheese in his hands. "Catch!" she called, tossing it in the air. It landed directly on top of the cheese, earning her a smile from Bombur and a cheer from Bofur. The hobbit mentioned something about a knife for the cheese, but his words fell to deaf ears as Bombur kept on walking.
"Cheese knife? He eats it by the block." Bofur said.
"Shall we help move the table to make more room? Or are you two going to just stand there and glare daggers at me all night?" Sephira asked before walking gracefully over to a table and grabbing one end of it. But not before flicking her golden curls over her shoulder as she passed the two brothers, an extra sashying to her hips as she went.
Oh yes, the boys were definitly glad she decided to show up.
Fili and Kili moved to other ends of the table, lifting it effortlessly as they moved it to a larger room. It was a mass of dwarves and food and flying objects for a while after that. Somewhere among all the excitement, Sephira found herself filling up four mugs of ale, while other dwarves were gathered around the table. Food was flying everywhere, getting caught by Bombur before a loud cheer would resound through the house. Sephira hopped up onto the table lightly, black boots dancing gracefully out of the foods way as she ducked to avoid flying food and twisted to avoid stepping on the food or dishes.
"Ale anyone?" she questioned, already handing off one of the ales to Balin, who smiled his thanks.
"Get down here Seph!" both Fili and Kili called at the same time, two warm hands grabbing an arm, hauling her off the table with a laugh and down between the two grinning brothers.
She dropped the wooden mugs of ale on the table, slidding one to both Kili and Fili before taking up her own once again. They all gave a toast before they began chugging their drinks. Ale spilled out of the mugs and down their beards, soaking them and wetting the tops of their shirts. Sephira was more gracefull about it, as she was with almost everything she did. Not a single drop of ale spilt down her front, and she slammed her mug onto the table at the same time as Fili. Who, surprisingly, had not spilt any ale on himself either. A burp sounded from one of the dwarves, and the table dissolved into laughter. The sound only intensified when shy, quiet little Ori stood up and let out a loud burp that out did the last dwarf. A noise near the door, and then the familiar gruff voice of Gandalf talking caught Sephira's attention, and she slapped Kili gently on the arm, seeming as how it was blocking her way onto the table.
"Let me up." she ordered. He obliged without question, moving his arm out of the way. Though she felt the touch of both brothers as they helped her onto the table. Once more, Sephira found herself dancing gracefully across the table, ducking quickly as an egg was tossed to Bombur.
She didnt need to glance behind her to see that Fili and Kili had followed her. She could sense them. The Fae had heightened awareness. Their eye sight was sharp. Their hearing was damned near perfect and they could hear very far off- same with their sight. Their noses could pick up on the faintest of odors. No need to turn her head to see the sight she knew she would.
"Ahh Sephira! Glad you decided to join us!" Gandalf said, breaking off from what he had been saying to the hobbit. "I was surprised when Fili and Kili arrived without you. The three of you are normally attatched at the hips!" he laughed. Sephira smiled at him.
"You didnt really think i'd miss out on a chance like this?" she questioned with mock contempt. Gandalf's eyes gleamed as he let out a chuckle. No, he knew better than that. Little Sephira was never far from an adventure. Even as a small child she jumped at the chance to do something exciting. Climbing trees and hunting treasures. She used to play with Fili and Kili as a young child when they went on "orc hunts". A real adventure showing up on her doorstep? There was no way to keep her from that.
"She wouldnt be here if we had our way." Fili said calmly, fixing Sephira with an acussing glance. Sephira rolled her eyes once more, huffing as she crossed her arms firmly across her chest.
"You two should know better than to think you could leave me behind. Telling me to stay put like a good little girl, I almost-" Sephira didnt get the chance to finish that sentence, due to Fili's hand clamping over her mouth, Kili's a second after his. She glared at the both of the, reaching up and yanking their hands away from her mouth. The nerve of those two. They were lucky she didnt still have her daggers on her. Fili would be missing a much prized mustache.
"I'm sorry to interupt sir, but what do I do with my plate?" Ori- always so polite- asked, holding the empty dish in his hands.
"Here Ori, give it to me." Fili said, reaching out and plucking it from his hands before tossing it to Sephira. Earlier sour mood forgotten, Sephira bounced the dish easily off her elbow before kicking it lightly with the side of her boot and sending it to Kili, who kicked it into the kitchen. From the table, the dwarves that sat around began beating the table with the forks and clashing the knives together, a rhythm beginning to form.
"Please dont do that!" Bilbo cried. "You'll blunt the knives!" he yelped.
"Did you hear that laddies?" Bofur called, a smirk to his voice. "He says we'll blunt the knives..." The rythem picked up, and Sephira began to hum as more plates and dishes were tossed to her from Fili. She spun and kicked one, sending it to Kili as Fili began to hum the same tune as her, picking up on it with a large grin. Kili was the first to break into the song, the second line being sung by Fili and the third by Sephira before all of them joined in.
"Blunt the knives and bend the forks!
Smash the bottles and burn the corks!
Chip the glasses and crack the plates!
That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!"
Sephira bounced a mug off her elbow before bumping it lightly with her hip and sending it flying towards Kili. He ducked easily, allowing it to fly into the kitchen. The distressed cries of Bilbo could be heard by all, but they continued on, everyone joining in the song as they flung dishes and silverwear to the kitchen.
"Cut the cloth and tread the fat! Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl; That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!
Leave the bones on the bedroom mat!
Pour the milk on the pantry floor!
Splash the wine on every door!
Pound them up with a thumping pole;
And when you've finished, if any are whole,
Send them down the hall to roll!
So, carefully! Carefully with the plates!
By the end of the song, Bilbo shuffled to the kitchen quickly, eyes the size of his own saucers. Of course, they did none of those horrible things, and all the dishes were piled on the kitchen table clean and unharmed. He sighed in relief, his shoulders sagging.
"Oh come now Mister Baggins! We're not that disrespectful!" Sephira called from her spot between Fili and Kili. Fili had an arm drapped over her shoulders as he leaned on her, and Kili was resting against the wall, one boot kicked up and perching on the wall behind him while his arms were crossed across his chest. Bilbo opened his mouth to say something, no doubt a remark on how that was not what he was thinking, when a knock at the door silenced them all. Fili and Kili straightened up, Fili's arm dropping from Sephira's shoulders as she too stood straighter, her arms falling to her sides as her eyes trained on the door.
"He is here." Gandalf said solemly, all laughter leaving his eyes.
"I could have waited a bit longer for his arrival..." Sephira mumbled mostly for her own ears. Fili and Kili glanced down at her, a sypathetic look to their eyes. Thorin would not be as accepting of Sephira joining as the others were.
When Sephira came to them after her parents died, she was only twelve winters old. Hardly even in her teen years. Thorin had taken her in, helping to raise her and care for her as he did his nephews. He had become like a father to her. And he was a great father to her, even though Thorin was a dwarf, and therefore not completely able to raise a Fae child. But that did not stop him from trying nor from treating her like his own family. The last thing Sephira ever wanted was to disappoint him or have him angry at her for any reason. And yet here she was, standing in the burglar's home with the other dwarves after she was specifically told not to come. Of course, it hadnt been Thorin that told her not to come, it had been Fili and Kili. The two dwarves that felt the need to boss her around for "her own good". But if they did not want her to come, then what was Thorin to think?
"It'll be all right lass." Balin's comforting voice said from beside her, a hand being placed on her arm. Sephira looked over at him, a small smile in thanks tilting her lips. She liked Balin. He was always a comforting and peaceful man, always helping calm a situation down when need be.
"Besides, it's not like he'd send you home or anything." Kili said. Sephira turned back to face him, eyes narrowing dangerously. Though both him and Fili could see the small gleam of amusement in her smokey eyes, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"If you just jinxed me, I'll kick your arse." she threatened seriously, one danty finger pointed up at him warningly. Kili just rolled his eyes before he moved closer into the doorway as Gandalf swung open the round door.
Sephira kept her spot, not far out of the doorway, but far enough away that Thorin wouldnt see her first. Let him get introduced to the hobbit and see his nephews before he spots her. Might soften the blow of seeing her face if he's already disappointed in what he sees. Nothing against the little hobbit, Sephira trusted Gandalf and would trust his judgement, but Bilbo Baggins did not look like much. But then again, neither did she. Fili and Kili always teased her about her small stature and willowy, slight frame. Like being too much of a girl was a bad thing.
"Gandalf. I thought you said this place was easy to find." Thorin said by means of greeting as he stepped into the hobbit hole. He was an intimidating figure to see standing outside your doorstep. Sephira didnt blame the small hobbit for shuffling back a step or two.
"I got lost twice before i saw the mark on the door." he continued.
"Mark?" Bilbo pipped up, straightening his shoulders. Ahh the pride of a hobbit for a clean home. "There is no mark on that door. I had it painted a week ago!" Bilbo ranted, pointing with an unsteady hand to said door.
"There is so a mark on that door, I put it there myself." Gandalf said with a sniff, raising his chin as if insulted. "This, Bilbo Baggins, is the leader of our company; Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain." he introduced. Thorin walked forward, looking down at the hobbit as he moved around him slowly, evidentally putting him closer to the doorway that Sephira was standing near.
"So this...is the hobbit." he mused, gruff voice carrying easily through the house. "What's your weapon of choice? Sword or axe?" Thorin asked. Bilbo stuttered and fidgetted as he answered.
"I do pretty well with Conckers if i do say so myself...but I fail to...see...how that's uh...relevant." his voice trailing off and his shoulders sagging a bit before he finally glanced back at Thorin. He scoffed, sending a smirk to Balin over his shoulder.
"I figured as much." he responded. "Looks more like a grocer than a burglar." he added, glancing up at Gandalf.
Fili sniggered, resulting in Sephira jabbing him in the side with a small glare. It wasnt the hobbit's fault he was so small. He was a hobbit after all. Fili's sniggered cut short though, and Sephira felt the weight of a pair of eyes on her before Fili and Kili both shifted their weight slightly. She forced her expression to remain calm and expressionless as she lifted her gaze. Sure enough, Thorin was staring right at her, his jaw locked so tight a muscle was twitching. Anger, shock, and...disdain? were all battling for a place in his blue eyes before finally he let out a sigh.
"Still trailing after my nephews I see." he said, tones resigned. Sephira bristled at that, her spine straightening as she narrowed her eyes dangerously, anger flashing in her smokey eyes.
"Trailing after your nephews- No." she said, her tones breathy and seeping with indignation. She didnt trail after his nephews. It made her sound like a loyal little pet. And Sephira was not anyones pet.
If anything, it was Fili and Kili that trailed after her. They had followed her numerous times when they were little into an adventure that resulted in something going wrong. Of course she wouldnt mention that. Fili and Kili had taken the falls for them, and she wasnt about to bring them back up now. She let out a breath at the look Thorin was giving her; whether it was the tone of her voice or the fact that he didnt believe her, Sephira didnt know. But she was going to guess a combination of both. He was in every way a second father to her, and Sephira knew full well that her blood father would not have allowed her to use that tone on him.
"I trailed after Bombur, Bofur, Bifur, Nori, Dori, Ori, Oin and Gloin." she said seriously. Then added, "If by trailing after you mean running that is."
"We told you not to come." Fili said in an "I told you so" tone of voice. Sephira jabbed him in the side with her elbow, ignoring it as he winced and as Kili chuckled. She kept her eyes locked with Thorin's. She knew he had something to say. She could tell by the glint that entered his eyes after Fili had spoken.
"You should have listened to them Sephira." he said, voice gruff. Sephira's stomach dropped, her throat closing up and making speech impossible. But that was fine for the moment, becaue Thorin was pressing on ruthlessly even as Sephira's mouth opened in silence. "This journey is no place for a woman. And you are not even a woman. Barely seventy two winters old, you're nothing more than a grown child."
"Uncle..." Kili said, dark eyes widened. His words couldnt have been more harsh, and he didnt need to look to know that a sheen of unshed tears were gleaming in Sephira's eyes. Fili felt his stomach disappear into a dark abyse, words failing him as he stared in silent shock at his uncle.
"Quiet Kili. I told you this was no place for children." Thorin growled at him, silencing Kili before he had a chance to say any more. And even as he scolded Kili, his eyes didnt leave Sephira's. Which was making the task of not showing how much his words hurt extremely difficult.
"However...I can honestly say I couldnt ask for a more loyal heart in my company." Thorin said. All thought left Sephira, and she found herself staring blankly at Thorin, her lips parted in an 'o' shape. Fili and Kili were no better off than her, and Thorin allowed a small smile to appear on his lips as he walked towards the three. Thorin rested a hand on both of his nephews shoulders, giving each of them a look that could only pass as compationate if you knew him well enough, before he placed both of his hands on Sephira's shoulders.
"I'm glad these two didnt tie you up and leave you." he said. Sephira couldnt help the startled little scoff that left her lips as her stomach came back to her in a frenzy of nerves. Thorin better be damn well pleased with who he was. Because that was the only thing stopping Sephira from smacking him upside the head like she does with Fili and Kili.
"Not that they didnt think of it." Sephira mumbled. Thorin gave a soft chuckle for their ears only before removing his hands and moving past them without another word, heading into the kitchen.
"Well that went well." Fili mumbled. Sephira said nothing as she glanced up at him.
It was the most serious Sephira had seen him since he told her they didnt want her coming with them. He had been worried that his uncle was truly upset with Sephira. Yes, the words he spoke were true. He thought Sephira nothing more than a grown child. Not a woman. Which was partically true. In human years, Sephira looked maybe in her early twenties. But if you counted technical human years, Sephira was seventeen. A child really. And they had been absolutely certain that Thorin was going to send her out the door without a second thought. They were glad he hadnt.
"Fili, Kili, Sephira! Get in here! We have much to talk about if you are to be joining us on this journey." Thorin called from inside the kitchen, and the three scrambled to follow orders.