This is my first ever fan fiction, written because I detest the ending of both the movie and book. It is based more on the movie than the book, I wrote it whilst watching the first movie so the scenes and speeches are taken from the film, following that story line closely and using some deleted scenes. I have only added in some scenes that work alongside my own character and tried to twist the story a little to fit. I intend on writing a fan fiction for each of the films and I hope you enjoy what I've done.
I believe I need a disclaimer with this so here goes;
I do not own any part of 'The Hobbit' films or books, they belong entirely to J RR Tolkein and Peter Jackson. I do not own any of the characters either, apart from 'Elin' which is a character I created to insert into the story and tell it from her perspective. In short the whole thing belong to the imagination of the great writer J RR Tolkein and all the scenes from the movie, belong to Peter Jackson or Warner Bros ext. I am just playing around with their creations.
Done.
I will also say I was inspired to do this by reading a similar fan fiction on the internet that hasn't been finished, and I needed to know the conclusion. I will admit that I stole a few lines and scenes from her fan fiction so if this looks familiar to you, thank you for your writing and I'm sorry I pinched some of it!
Also, last thing, the character 'Elin' has a name of Scandinavian descent so should be pronounced 'Aelin' like Ale-in :/
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Fan fiction.
Chapter 1; Visitor to Bag End.
Tales of what happened at Erebor have long since become legend. Only few know the truth behind the tales, and even for those who were there, and lived through the adventures, the memories are beginning to fade. It is an odd tale, that takes Bilbo and I far from our home; but I fear that if I do not recount these tales, the memories will be lost forever. This is the tale of my first adventure, the time I first set foot outside the Shire, and how my dear friend Bilbo was there beside me.
I stumbled on this adventure, quite accidentally and not once have I ever regretted that I did.
It began long ago, in a land far away to the east. The like of which you will not find in the world today…
My story starts, as you might expect, in a hole in the ground. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, full of worms and oozy smells. This was a Hobbit home, my home. And that means good food, a warm hearth and all the comforts of home...
I yawned and stretched out across my bed, the early morning light seeping calmly through my curtains and rousing me from peaceful dreams. Judging from the light it was almost time for tea and a good breakfast.
The grandfather clock sitting stoutly in the living room chimed out for seven o'clock. I sighed and rolled my legs out over the edge of the bed, rubbing my eyes, a small smile forming on my lips. It was a good life, the life of a Hobbit. Quiet, but it suited me just fine.
At exactly seven thirty, after a good breakfast and clean of the house I opened my front door onto the warm morning air, and set off in search of Bilbo for our morning walk.
I'd known Bilbo for almost as long as I could remember, become friends upon discovering our mutual interest in wiz poppers and adventure, and inseparable since his aunt Rosa caught us trying to climb up over the fence into Bamfurlong farm in the Marish and chase hens.
Bilbo was in so much trouble after that I thought I might never see him again. Come the next day he stood outside my front door asking me to come down to the Brandywine River to fish.
I smiled at the memory as I trod the path up to Bilbo's house, the refreshing morning air filled with the scent of wild flowers. We were older now, and adventure hadn't sought us out us in many years but we still found ourselves taking walks together and enjoying the company as much as we had as children.
I turned, following a bend in the path and froze. There he was, sitting out on his bench as he did every morning, enjoying the morning air and a puff on his pipe, nothing out of the ordinary there. What was strange was the tall human man stood outside Bilbo's gate, leaning against a staff and peering down at Bilbo with the most curious of looks upon his weathered face.
The man was old and grey. From his cloak, right down to his beard and hat the man was covered in the same dull colour. He had a strange air of familiarity about him. I knew that face, but couldn't place where I had seen it before.
Bilbo looked just as perplexed as I felt, sat glancing around and puffing stiffly away at his pipe. I crept forwards, crouching down against the bushes until I came close enough to hear the old man speak.
"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning or do you mean it is a good morning, weather I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning? Or are you simply stating that it is a morning to be good on?"
Bilbo sat for a moment, staring at the man before replying. "All of them at once, I suppose…"
That answer didn't seem to satisfy the old man; he gave half a shake of his head and let out a disappointed grumble.
It was a strange morning indeed.
"Can I help you?" Bilbo asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
"That remains to be seen…" the old man trailed off, considering Bilbo for a moment. "I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure…" I could hear the question in his voice and a small gasp escaped from my lips.
An Adventure! I hadn't seen one of those in far too long! And neither had Bilbo.
Bilbo's pipe fell from his lips and he stared for a moment at the old man, a flicker of the younger Hobbit's excitement flitting across his features before he recovered himself to a look of complete disgust.
"An adventure?" he said, sitting up in his seat and shaking his head. "Now I don't imagine anyone west of Bree, would have much interest in adventures." He stood then, looking pleased with himself.
I would have laughed, had I not been hiding in a berry bush. Old Bilbo had become timid in his age, and much preferred to put his feet up before the hearth with a good book than go gallivanting off on some nasty adventure. In a way I could agree with him, with age came responsibility and the understanding of danger, but I would still look back every now and then. Say on a particularly cold evening, I would find myself sat staring into the flickering light of the fire and think back on all the adventures Bilbo and I had planned to go on, all the places we'd dreamed of visiting.
Now here he was, presented with the change to go and achieve those dreams we'd long since locked away, and good old Bilbo would be too worried about who was going to look after his garden.
"Nasty, disturbing… uncomfortable things" Bilbo continued, removing post from his letter box and rifling through it. "Make you late for dinner!" he exclaimed. I felt a giggle rising up my throat and shook my head at my old friend.
With a sigh Bilbo threw back his shoulders, "Good morning," he said again, and turned to return to his home.
"To think that I should have lived to be 'Good morning-ed' by Belladona Took's son!" exclaimed the old man. At the sound of Bilbo's mother's name, a thought pulled at the back of my mind, a memory that couldn't quite surface. Bilbo stood frozen on the steps up to his house, pipe in mouth and post in hand, staring down at the old man. "As if I was selling buttons at the door!" the man continued, taking a few paces forwards and coming to a stop before Bilbo.
"Beg your pardon?" Bilbo said, dropping the pipe from his lips.
"You've changed, and not entirely for the better Bilbo Baggins…" the old man leant again on his staff.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Bilbo asked, his tone quite defiant.
"Well, you know my name, although you don't remember I belong to it, I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means… me"
Gandalf! That name brought the memory swimming to the surface. Bilbo and I stood in his front garden as children on midsummers, watching as Old Took set off wiz poppers, all lighting the sky with fabulous colours. I remembered Gandalf well, now the name had been put to a face I could see him setting off fireworks for all the children in the Shire, sometimes they would even chase him, just to see what brilliant new patterns he could create with those flashing lights.
"Not Gandalf, the wondering wizard who made such excellent fireworks?" a small smile began to spread out over Bilbo's lips as the memory surfaced in him too. Gandalf looked pleased, at least, that his fireworks had been appreciated. "Old Took, used to have them on midsummer's eve!" Bilbo said, a laugh escaping his lips. He cleared his throat as if realising how uncouth his outburst had been. "I had no idea, you were still in business." He said, popping his pipe back into his mouth.
"And where else should I be?" Asked Gandalf, seeming quite offended.
"Well…" Bilbo cleared his throat uncomfortably and took another puff of his pipe. A small giggle escaped my lips at the look on his face.
"Well I am pleased to find, you remember something about me… even if it's only my fireworks…" I could hear the disappointment in his voice and even from behind the berry bush I could see his face drop. "Well that's decided, it'll be very good for you. And most amusing for me." Then added. "I shall inform the others."
Bilbo's face twisted into an almost comical look of confusion as he stared at the old wizard, and I could feel an identical look covering my features.
"Inform the who?" Bilbo asked, a little frantic "No! No… We do not want any adventures here, thank you." Bilbo said, hopping up the few remaining steps to his house. He turned and waved his pipe frantically at Gandalf. "Not today, not- I suggest you try over the hill…. Or across the water." And with a final 'good morning' he turned and retreated into Bag End, slamming the round door behind him, the sharp snap of the lock being pulled resonating off the heavy wood.
Gandalf stood for a moment, pondering Bilbo and shaking his head in disappointment. He then stepped through the gate and up to the door, bending down over it for a few moments. I expected him to knock or maybe try and enter into Bilbo's house in pursuit of changing his mind, but instead Gandalf stood back, peered in through the window beside the door and then stoutly set off and away from Bilbo's house...Straight in my direction.
I held my breath and watched through the branches as he passed me and stopped. I bit my lip, praying he wouldn't find me. Gandalf turned staring over the bushes I had chosen to hide in and suddenly I found myself being lifted up and out of the bush. Gandalf had pulled me up by the scruff of my neck and dumped me down before him on the dirt path.
"For what reason is a young Hobbit like yourself hiding in the bushes and spying on a Wizard?" Gandalf asked, staring down disapprovingly.
"I came to see Bilbo, I didn't intend on spying." I said, squinting against the sunlight creeping up and over the hill behind him.
Gandalf gave me a long hard look. "You Hobbits really are light on your feet…" he said finally. "It takes quite a deal to go unnoticed by me." His eyes narrowed, apparently deciding whether he was irritated or impressed by my hiding skills.
Settling on impressed, he let a gentle smile gleam down at me. I stood, brushing off the dust from my skirt and stared sheepishly up at the Wizard, my hands clasped tightly behind my back.
"Well then, I best be off. You have a good day." He nodded and curtly then bounded off down the path.
"Mr. Gandalf?" I asked, turning to face him.
"Yes?" he said, stopping and looking back at me.
"This adventure, the one you want Bilbo to go on… will it be dangerous?" I asked, looking clearly into Gandalf's eyes.
The Wizard peered down at me with a curious expression and shook his head slightly. "My dear Hobbit, if you remain this sharp you may very well find out for yourself." He gave me a brief smile and bounded off down the lane once more.
I stared after him until the tip of his hat disappeared behind a bend in the hedge. I sighed, then shook myself and turned back to Bilbo's house. "Oh Bilbo, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" I whispered, a small smile spreading across my lips. What an unusual day this was becoming.
I made my way up to his front door and knocked, the smile still spread across my lips. The moment my knock thudded across the door the sounds of an aggravated Bilbo began to echo around the halls.
"Master Gandalf, I have already made it quite clear…" Bilbo began, approaching the door. "I am in no way interesting in going on an ad-" Bilbo's words trailed off as he unlatched the door and pulled it open to find me standing on his door step. "Elin" he sighed, leaning against the green wood.
"Sorry to disappoint, no adventures… just me." I said, beaming at the disgruntled Hobbit.
Bilbo smiled. "That suits me just fine. Come in" he stepped aside, letting me enter.
Hobbit homes. Holes in the ground have never looked as grand as a Hobbit home, there was no finer sight in all of middle-earth. At least in my opinion. And Bilbo's was always the warmest and most welcoming of all.
I stepped in and made my way through the halls and into the family room, embers still glittered on the hearth from the previous night's fire, the sunlight dancing across the dark wood walls, casting rays of gold across the room. It was the best place to be.
"Have you eaten yet" Bilbo asked, stepping up next to me. His soft brown hair hung into his kind eyes and as usual a sweet smile was in place upon his lips.
"Oh yes, thank you. I was hoping you were ready for a walk, but I can wait while you eat." Bilbo led me into the kitchen and took his place at the table. I took the bench opposite him.
"I apologise for my tone this morning… I had an unexpected visitor…" Bilbo said, beginning to spread jam on his bread.
"Master Gandalf" I said nodding. He looked up at me for a moment, the knife stilled over the bread before he chortled and continued to spread.
"I should have known you'd be listening in." he smiled at me again and began on his breakfast. "Curiosity will be your downfall Miss Elin."
"Indeed it will, but it will be a spectacular one Master Bilbo." I said, breaking out in a wide smile.
I sat opposite him, nursing a small cup of tea he insisted on pouring for me and chatted with him while he ate. Within half an hour we set off from Bag End and headed out.
"Shall we?" Bilbo asked, extending his elbow for me to take.
"We shall." I replied, linking my arm with his...
A short while later the two of us were strolling through the trees of a small wood, enjoying the gentle breeze, the warm air, and each other's company.
"What starts with T, ends with T, and has T in it?" Bilbo asked, staring casually off into the distance. We'd been walking in silence for a short while and he'd decided to break it with a game of riddles. Bilbo loved riddles, always had, and it aggravated me greatly when he outsmarted me, which was the primary reason he kept playing.
"Easy, teapot." I said, just as absently as he had asked. "Bilbo you have an abnormal obsession with tea." I added, receiving a satisfying grumble from Bilbo.
"Your turn" was the only answer he graced me with.
"Alright, but I warn you. I have been practicing." Bilbo raised his eyebrows at me and waited for me to continue. "The more you have of it, the less you see. What is it?"
Bilbo paused for a moment, a wrinkle forming between his brows for seconds before he answered. "Darkness." I nodded.
"You hear me before, yet you hear me again. Then I shall die, 'till you call me again." Bilbo waited, a serene expression pulling at his features.
I had to think for a moment, Bilbo was always good at discovering some obscure riddle to use against me. After a short pause the answer hit me. "An echo!" I said, smiling over at my friend.
"Very good."
I stopped. "My life can be measured in hours, I serve by being devoured. Thin I am quick. Fat I am slow. Wind is my foe." A smile began to form on my lips, knowing exactly what riddle I would ask next. I'd searched days after our last game for one hard enough to stump even Bilbo.
He paused, a larger wrinkle making a home between his brows as he thought. I could see his lips moving a little as he repeated the words to himself. I stood facing him, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Bilbo snapped his fingers in triumph. "A candle. Clever…" he trailed off, thinking up his own to give me. "A box without hinges, lock or key, yet golden treasure lies beneath. What is it?"
Bilbo crossed his arms over his chest, please with both his riddle and his solving of mine.
I thought a moment, before a sly smile began to creep onto my lips. I had found this one only a few days ago, it was a clever riddle really and Bilbo knew so, thinking I would not solve it. He was wrong.
"An egg." I said, my grin becoming wider at the look of displeasure that crossed his face. I didn't wait, eager to try my hardest riddle on him.
"This thing all things devours. Birds, beasts, trees, flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel. Grinds hard stones to meal. Slays Kings, ruins towns, and beats mountains down." I smiled in triumph at the look that crossed Bilbo's face at the riddle. I knew I'd stumped him the moment the last words left my lips but he still had a good go at finding the answer.
I stood cross armed and grinning as Bilbo pondered my riddle. He crossed and uncrossed his own arms, tapped his forehead, mumbled the riddle over and over in his head and even paced a little before coming to a stop before me. "Humph" he breathed, another wrinkle burying itself on his already crowded forehead.
"Do you give up?" I asked, clasping my arms behind my back and leaning up on my toes.
He didn't utter a word, instead nodded curtly and sighed deeply again.
"Time. The answer is time…" I said. Bilbo's face dropped as realisation hit him.
"Of course!" he mumbled, covering his eyes with one hand and resting the other on his hip. "I shall have to remember that one. When did you get so good at riddles?" he asked, dropping his hand and turning back to me, a small smile colouring his features again.
"My dear Bilbo, simply because you are older than me, does not mean you are also wiser…" I trailed off, beginning to walk back towards home. He bounded after and linked his arm with mine again.
"That is a fair point Elin." He said, letting out a small laugh.
"And I did say I have been practicing…" I said, letting out a slight giggle.
A while later as we started back up the path to Bag End he nodded up to the house that had appeared above a hedge and smiled.
"I do believe after such hard work, it is high time for second breakfast. What do you think?" Bilbo asked, steering us towards his house.
"It does feel like that time of day." I agreed and the two of us set off, up towards what was well on its way to becoming my second home...