Chapter Text
It was a common Monday morning, another week starting over as I got out of bed to kiss my husband goodbye and wish a good day at work. Everyday started like this, wash my face in the bathroom, go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast and the snack for school, and then wake up my daughter, help she get dressed and between kisses and hugs and a bit of complaining we are off to school.
After leaving her at school, my own day goes on, a stop at the bakery to buy a fresh piece of bread and then straight to work, a school where I spend my day caring and teaching little toddlers.
Like every single morning, I arrived a bit earlier, left my bags in my classroom and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. After saying good morning to the people who work with me, I went back to my room to find my co-worker already preparing the first activities of the day.
Suddenly I heard someone call for help, and another co-worker of mine came into the room saying there was a man outside and no one could understand what he was saying, and she thought that maybe I could try to help him, because he was dressed like one of the theatre people I’m used to.
I breathed deeply and pretend I didn't get it. She still bodered me for a theatre group I was part of a long time a go, but it was to early to argue and I decided to go see what was going on. I went to the school’s gate to see if I could help and as I got there I was chocked with what I saw.
There was a tall man, with dark long hair, he was dressed like he wondered out of a movie, but not just any movie... one I knew much too well... he looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes and I could see fear in them. He was scared and lost. He was speaking a different language, one I couldn’t understand, but I did recognize... it sounded like khuzdul.
It was all so weird and I didn’t know how to help him, but I felt like I should try... I tried to get close to him and the name came out of my mouth before I could stop it:
“Thorin!!??”
He suddenly stopped and looked at me with surprise and hope. Having his attention, I continued:
“My name is Laura; can you understand what I say?”
“Yes! You know me!?” he answered “You speak Westron!” and he went on very anxiously “I don’t understand where I am, I stumbled and fell in the middle of the forest, then came rolling down this mountain." He pointed to the mountain behind him "I’m late, I was on my way to the meeting with my company and Gandalf, he is supposed to introduce me to the thieve.”
In my mind, I was following the story and I knew where it led, so I started laughing as I talked again.
“Sure, Bilbo, and then take back Erebor, of course...” – he interrupted me in a hopeful way.
“Do you know the way? I’m lost, I had no idea this would take me so distant and it would be so strange… I’m used to quests, I’ve been searching for my father for such a long time now, and I know my way around these places, but not this one… It’s like I have never been here before…”
Still in my mind, as I listened to him and kept looking at him, trying to imagine who could play such a trick on me. It was a well-built story, and this guy was a great actor.
Thorin Oakenshield was one of my favorite characters in the Hobbit, but it wans't a subject of conversation in my daily life, the people I worked with didn't seem to care about this or any other story I would have interest in, except for my friend, we had talked about the Hobbit a few times, not that she cared for it, but she knew I did ...
But why would she…
“Laura, please, do you know the way?” – he called my attention
“Yes! … No!!! … Listen... Thorin... I do not know the way there… I appreciate the joke, I really do, but I need to go to work, so if you could just take a picture with me and be on your way I’ve got to go.
He kept looking at me as if he didn’t understand a word I said, quietly, until he finally he spoke.
“Pic... what?? I don’t understand you… I apologize my lady, if I’m disturbing your life, but it seems you know me, when no one else does, I need your help!! Please, don’t leave!”
His eyes were now pledging for help, and I thought to myself, this guy is SO good... Where is he going with this!?
“All right... all right – I said while thinking what I would do and for how long would he take this charade – Why don’t you come in here and let me see what I can do to help you, is that ok??”
He nodded and came my way.