When
they felt hydrated and their meeting was getting nearer, Fili and Kili thought it
would be best to start moving. As they were about to leave, Fili remembered
that they had not payed for their mead yet and he offered to go outside and
fetch the money while Kili stayed inside. Fili was just about to leave when the
bartender turned to him.
"Where do you think you are going?" he said, "You have not paid
for your drinks yet."
"I was just about to get my money from outside, Kili here can vouch for
me." Fili answered. The bartender looked at Kili who confirmed what Fili
had said with a nod.
"I know your type, Dwarf. All you want is gold! You have no intention of
paying for anything." the bartender stepped out from the bar so he stood
in front of Fili.
"You have to pay for the mead now, or else." he said. Fili couldn't help
but laugh, what could a little hobbit do to him?
"Oh, you think this is funny, do you?" said the bartender, who was
very upset at this point.
"No, of course not. But I can't pay for the mead without my money, and my
money is just outside." Fili said, pointing at the door, trying to show that
he was an honest man. The bartender would not have it, he took a step towards
Fili as if to threaten him. The height difference did not seem to bother him,
and he was certain that Fili was going to run away.
"You will not leave my tavern if you have not paid. Otherwise I will have
to fight you." the bartender said. As he said this, some hobbits nearby
walked over and stood beside the bartender. Even though they were small, they
could probably bring down Fili. They could not fight both Fili and Kili,
though. They were far too few and they were too small to be an obstacle for the
two dwarves.
"We do not want any trouble, little man" said Kili. He stood beside
Fili and together they must have looked terrifying for the hobbits, however
they did not give up their thought of
beating the dwarves. On the contrary, they seemed almost more certain that they
could take them in a fight. More hobbits had now noticed the dwarves and they
joined their fellow hobbits. All of them were fairly intoxicated, so they were
bolder than usual. Both Fili and Kili saw that there were too many hobbits for
them to handle if they did not take them by surprise, and even if they did not want
to they would have to fight them.
