"Good Morning!"

Hearing the slam of my front door I hurry on up the hill, who on Middle-Earth could have aggravated my cousin this early in the morning. A grey crooked hat started wandering over the hill towards me, seeing the Grey Wizard attached to it I can't help but grin.

"Now what trouble have you brought my dear cousin, Wizard" My stern tone seems to do the trick of waking up Gandalf who glares down at me from bushy eyebrows, before breaking out in a laugh.

"Is that little Ayah Baggins I see before me?" Kneeling down to my height me pulls me into a hug, "hello my dear, you look more radiant than before". Laughing I wrap my arms around the Wizard's neck, returning his hug.

Leaning back, I squeeze his shoulder softly, "as charming as ever Gandalf. But what have you done to my poor Bilbo?" I ask as a mischievous glint in his blue eyes appears making mine narrow. Oh lords.

"He needed a small wake-up call Ayah, he's been sitting still for far too long. What would Belladonna say?" He asks rising to his full height and starts walking down the hill, rolling my eyes I follow after the tall Wizard.

Biting my lip I look up at Gandalf, "surely it's his right to live his life how he sees fit?"

Chuckling, he nods his head as he pulls his pipe out from somewhere in his robes and lights a match. "True young one, but sometimes that person can do more good than simply sitting there. I've asked your cousin to accompany me and a few others on an adventure … also to ask you as well my dear." Wait. What?

Coming to a stop I frown at the Wizard, he wants me and my cousin to go on an adventure? "What type of adventure Gandalf? I'm all for running off and chasing after fireflies and watching the Elves wander through the woods but that was a long time ago. Bilbo has changed and so have I, we aren't the young Hobbit's you once knew Friend." His eyes glare into my own until they flick down to the small knife I have strapped to my thigh and the trousers and tunic I am wearing.

"Some things haven't changed young one". I shake my head, this wasn't going to end well I can feel it. "I would not ask, unless I had to Ayah, you know that. My heart tells me that I need Bilbo and yourself on this quest, plus I believe you may find some answers to the questions that you have been asking all your life". His blue eyes bask into my own, how did he know I've been asking questions?

"It's not me you need to persuade Gandalf, it is Bilbo," his cheeky grin made me chuckle, "I'm guessing it's no coincidence that you happened to bump into me while you were still in Hobbiton was it?"

Stumbling over his next few words he wraps his arm around my shoulder in a half hug before sighing. "You are the only one who could get through to him before Ayah, I'm hoping that still stands true …"

"You mean you want me to do your dirty work and convince my poor Cousin to go on this quest, which by the way I have no idea where we are going, and not only that but hasn't stepped outside of the Shire let alone Hobbiton since he was a wee lad?" I ask him, his returning nod made me groan out load. "Gandalf!" His hand pushed me back down the road towards my Hobbit Hole.

"Go young one, expect company later. I expect your famous strawberry and blueberry pie!" He scampered off leaving me confused and slightly dazed. All normal for a meeting with the Grey Wizard I suppose, chuckling I head off towards my Home and poor Bilbo who must be boarding up the doors and windows thanks to Gandalf. Opening the gate, the smell of roses and daffodils invade my nose straight away, no way that Martha Proudfoot would beat me this year in the Shire's Flower contest!

Pushing open the front door I can see a weird symbol at the bottom, leaning down I trace it, the splintering wood pinching my finger. Bilbo was not going to be happy about this. He only just had this door painted a week ago. Shutting the door behind me as quickly as possible it's probably best I don't let him see that, it may tip him over the edge.

Speaking of my Cousin I can see him wearing a hole in the floor with his pacing.

"Bilbo?" I pat him on the shoulder as I pass to go towards the kitchen.

"Ayah! You will never guess what has just happened!" Raising my eyebrows, I rest the basket on the table. Here it comes.

"What my dearest Cousin? What has got you all in a dither?" I start unpacking the fish and vegetables that I got from the market before I had bumped into the wizard.

"Gandalf, you remember Gandalf don't you?" nodding at him he carries on, "well he has just had the nerve to walk by and ask me on a quest! Can you believe it? Me? On a quest? I do not think so! We Baggins are respectable folk, what would people think if I just wandered off away from Bag-End on some random quest with a wizard!" Letting Bilbo babble on I just grin. One thing I learnt to do as a young lass, just let him get it out of his system. He'll soon wear himself out, if not I'll just cook luncheon so he shuts up and eats.

Or so I thought. After filleting the fish and peeling all the potatoes my poor ears couldn't handle hearing Bilbo complain about Gandalf one more time.

Agreeing and ahhing at certain places in Bilbo's story I start the kettle for some elderflower tea to help soothe him, taking his hand, I lead him to his favourite armchair and push him into it before running and getting him his tea. "Now Bilbo, why don't you have some tea and try to calm down, after all did Gandalf say when he was next going to visit?" I place the tea cup in his hand then place my hands on my hips. Shaking his head, he smiles sheepishly up at me. "So stop your worrying Cousin, things happen for a reason. Now try to relax, drink your tea and I will start on dinner, yes?"

"What would I ever do without you Ayah?" Smirking, I glance at him over my shoulder as I start to season the fish and vegetables.

"Shrivel and beg Lobelia Sackville-Bagginses to help you?" His returning huff made my smirk grow, he's getting back to himself in no time at all. Glancing out the window I can see the sun start to sink behind the hills and the soft red light of the sky illuminate the kitchen. I'm guessing Gandalf's company would be arriving soon, looking at the fish I place it in the oven and the vegetables boiling as I start on Gandalf's Strawberry and blueberry pie. How that Wizard knew I had only just picked the berries that morning I will never know.

Bilbo's soft snores in the next room help soothe me and soon in no time at all the pie was in the oven and I had placed on a burgundy coloured dress that matched my red wavy hair and a small pinny over the top. No doubt if there was a big company I would have to lend my hand at cooking for them. Placing my hair up in a ponytail I allow the soft curls to rest around my face and down my back, flicking it off my shoulder I go to wake Bilbo.

Frying off the fish in the pan I start laden the plates with the food, filling up Bilbo's favourite mug with a small amount of ale. I have a feeling he's possibly going to need the alcohol tonight. Smirking at the Hobbit when he enters in his dressing gown I pass him his food and take my own plate to the table with a glass of wine. Glancing back out the window I can see the soft lantern lights from down in the Shire, mainly from the Green Dragon. The pie I made was cooling on the windowsill ready for whenever the meddling wizard came.

Bilbo grins his thanks across the table at me and starts to drizzle lemon over his fish. But probably a moment too soon seeing as the doorbell rang. Looking at me in confusion I just hide a grin and shrug my shoulders. Leaving the table, I can hear him grumble the entire way to the door. Oh Bilbo. Just you wait.

Hearing the door open I hear Bilbo let out a confused noise; frowning I stand up to go check on him before a deep voice echo's through our Hobbit hole: "Dwalin, at your service". Well that's not Gandalf! Making sure my knife was still attached to my hip I walk down the hallway, what has Gandalf got us mixed into?

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours." Heavy footsteps start to echo down the hall as I hurry to the main entrance to see a tall, to us Hobbit's of course, Dwarf with a bald head and tattoos and two very large axes attached to his back. "D-do we know each other?" Oh cousin. Trying hard not the grimace at the two's awkward exchange I watch as the Dwarf, whose name I am assuming is Dwalin, shoves his cloak and axes into Bilbo's arms.

"Which way, laddie? Is it down here?" The gruff Dwarf asks looking around the entrance before seeing me standing beside one of the openings.

"Is what down where?" Bilbo shuts the door and sends me an extremely confused look, to which I smile softly. Oh boy, this is going to be fun.

"Supper, he said there'd be food. And something about a pie?" Laughing I step forward closer to the Dwarf, well he must have been sent by Gandalf if he knew about that bloody pie.

"Come Master Dwarf, let's get you some food." I send him my best welcoming smile and stride back down the hallway to the kitchen, hearing heavy thumps I knew the Dwarf was following. Filling up another plate of fish, vegetables and rolls I place it on the table. The Dwarf in question was just watching me, slightly weird if you ask me but then I've never met a Dwarf before. Looking straight back at him I smile again and give a small curtsey: "Ayah Baggins, at your service Sir." Ah Momma would be so proud.

"Dwalin, at yours M'lady." Shaking my head at the Dwarf I waft my hands in an attempt to tell him to sit.

"No M'lady, Master Dwalin a simple Ayah will suffice. You must be hungry, please eat. Would you like some ale, wine, water?" As he starts to sit down Bilbo appears, at his slightly pale face I squeeze his hand as I pass him to get a tankard as the Dwarf mutters about ale.

"It'll be okay Bilbo, just eat you will feel better." I whisper at my cousin, slipping out the kitchen into the pantry I fill up the tankard till its full before bringing it back to the Dwarf. Standing against the back wall I watch the two males eat, what an absolute bizarre start to the evening.

"Yer wife is a good cook." Oh wait, just got more so. Coughing down a giggle at Bilbo's horrified face I quickly try and sooth the situation.

"Why thank you Master Dwalin, however, me and Bilbo are only cousins not husband and wife." I rectify, patting Bilbo on the back as I reach over to get my glass of wine.

"Ah I did question. Very good this. Any more?" I grin as Bilbo trips up over his words to get him some more biscuits from the side, watching him slide one behind his back I bite my lip to stop the laugh. Oh Bilbo.

"Help yourself. It's just that … uh … I wasn't expecting company." I swear my cousin has the best comedic timing as the doorbell went off once more.

"That'll be the door." Raising my eyebrow at my cousin, he rushes off the answer it leaving me with the greedy Dwarf who has managed to eat his, my cousins and my own plate of food. Standing from his place I motioned for him to go into the living room, least he can't get into any of the food there. Collecting the dishes, I start to wash them, what sort of adventure does Gandalf need us to go on with Dwarves? Hearing the door open and Bilbo's sigh I grin.

Least it'll be an interesting one.