Author's Note: Hello, everyone! So, this is my first 'Hobbit' fiction. I honestly do not have a lot to say at the moment about it besides the fact that it may not be the greatest creation on this site. However, after much searching through the section I've come to the sad conclusion that there are few Bilbo love stories or Bilbo-centric fics for that matter (unless you count Thilbo, Bagginshield, or whatever you may call it, which I have no desire to read, sorry. ). As such, I've taken the liberty to make my very own. Can't say it will be good or anything, but I figured I'd take a shot at it. Well, here we go...
Disclaimer: I don't own The Hobbit or anything related. That is the property of Tolkien. And the movie to Peter Jackson, I suppose? Whatever, you get the idea.
Prologue
Night had come to fall over the world, igniting a thunderous chorus of animalistic noises throughout the dense forest of Tod. Everything was natural about the scene except for a pair of light footsteps bearing down on the rotten foilage covering the ground. They belonged to a young human woman, who was carefully treading an ancient path through the wood. Quick was her pace, for no forest was truly safe after dark. From all around her there came odd sounds of varying nocturnal beasts: owls, wolves, and other more dangerous creatures. There was no chance of her camping in this place, no matter how weary she may have been.
When the trees began to make space between one another her spirits lifted somewhat. The end of the forest had come and beyond was safe country or so she was told. After a time the trees ceased their spread, leaving a clear view for the female traveler. She was at the edge of a shallow overhang that overlooked a vast stretch of land below known as the Shire. The woman walked to the cliff edge and breathed in deeply as she removed her hood. So this was it. Halfing country. A place seldom visited by humankind. The "little folk", or so men named the hobbits, were shy of the "big folk" as they liked to call men. At least that is what she recalled from old stories by her father, a masterful storyteller. This thought made the woman frown and for the first time since her departure from her homestead, she felt troubled. What if she had come all this way for nothing? She couldn't turn back now though...
"Quite a lovely view, hmm? Though, it is much more so during the daylight, if I do say so myself." came a soft rasp of a voice to break her train of thought.
The woman whipped around in fright, frantically patting her hands along her left hip where an old sword hung. There stood a tall figure in the shadows of the trees, just out of sight.
"Wh-who are you?" she called out to the hidden person with authority although the waver in her tone gave her fear away.
A low rumble of a chuckle, or so it sounded, issued from the shadows then.
"You have no need for that... Not just yet, anyway."
The young woman's eyes flitted to the sword in her hands then back at the stranger in the dark.
"Show yourself!" she blurted out, the fear taking a hold on her.
As if on cue, what few stray clouds that covered the waning moon that night suddenly drew apart and a beam of silver light shot down upon the clearing on the cliff. The figure moved forward gradually until it stood fully in the moonlight, revealing its' identity. The girl gasped and lowered her sword to her side a slight. Before her was an elderly gentleman garbed in worn grey robes and a lengthy blue scarf that wrapped twice about his neck. He had a grand beard that reached to his belly, a long nose and eyebrows so bushy that they protruded beyond the wide rim of his pointed hat. He carried with him a large wooden staff, which he now used as support to lean on. The old man looked so familiar to the woman, but for the life of her, she could not pin a name to his being.
"Does my appearance bring no relief?" said he.
The young woman, with sword still in hand, shrugged, shifting her weight from foot to foot uneasily.
"I vaguely remember a man like yourself, though I cannot think of his name."
The mysterious old man nodded. "Perhaps if you knew I was Gandalf you would not be so precarious, now would you?"
Gandalf? She strained to fish the name from her memory. Gandalf? Gandalf...
The woman's eyes grew with recognition and the sword in her right hand clanged to the grassy ground as she ran towards him like a child would to their grandfather.
"Gandalf! Oh, Gandalf! Is it truly you?" she cried with joy.
The grey wizard embraced the young woman, laughing heartily at her youthful vigor.
"Well, as far as I know. Unless you have encountered more Gandalfs besides me."
"No!" the woman stepped back to look at him better. "There is only one Gandalf I ever knew and he is you."
For a moment the two studied themselves in the light of the moon, recalling times before where they had seen a great deal of each other. It had been such years since the last time the young woman had spoken to the wizard and she had come to think he had spent his last days in Middle Earth. Here he was, though, the same as ever.
"Oh, Gandalf, I've missed you!" she said in genuine earnest, going to hug him for the second time.
"As I have you, Dear Fandria."
The young woman, or Fandria, released her hold and grinned excitedly up at the wizard.
"Where have you been, Gandalf?"
Gandalf sighed and bobbed his head from side to side as he tried to come up with a decent answer.
"Oh, well, around everywhere to be perfectly honest, child."
"What are you doing here?"
"I should like to ask the same of you, Miss Narand." he said gruffly, giving an even nod at her, which caused the tip of his hat to flop forward.
The woman's bright eyes and jubliant demeanor instantly darkened and she crossed her arms over her chest in defiance.
"My business is my own." she stated.
"As is mine." Gandalf returned promptly.
Fandria shook her head at him in disbelief.
"You were always so secretive..." she grumbled, turning away from the wizard.
"For reasons."
Gandalf watched the girl trudge back to her original spot to fetch the fallen sword from the ground, all the while his scheming mind worked. A sudden twinkle appeared in his blue eyes and his mouth quivered as he held back a smile.
"Though I do not know your purpose here, I would say that if you are wanting a place to sleep this is not the most suitable spot."
Fandria snorted, straightening from her bent position to reclaim her weapon from the ground, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Indeed."
"If I were you, I would seek refuge." he carried on, making his way over to the girl.
"Oh, yes?" she feigned innocence to the suggestion, sheathing the sword.
"There are many a warm hole further on down the road. I am sure that you could find a trusting hobbit to spare a room for the night."
At this, Fandria's head popped up.
"Pardon me, Gandalf, but I don't think that is the most clever idea you've given. I know nothing of halflings and they certainly know nothing of me!"
Gandalf raised one of his furry eyebrows at her and made a noise between a snort and a gasp.
"Then why here? Why the Shire? Did you not expect to meet halflings in their homeland?" he exclaimed, spreading out his arms in exaggeration.
"Again, my business." Fandria reminded him snappishly.
"Your business or not, I would advise you to find something other than damp grass as a bed, Fandria Narand." Gandalf said in all seriousness.
He placed one hand on his hip, while gripping his staff with the other, staring down at the young woman. Fandria gave him a hard look back, but she couldn't keep it for long under his stare. That stare. The stoney, all-knowing stare. The Gandalf stare. It always triumphed in the end. She growled with frustration, shaking her head at the ground.
"Look, Gandalf, I do not know this country-" she began to say when he cut across her.
"Yes, but I do. If you wish, I could refer you to some of the more... erm, well, some of the more bolder sorts of hobbits."
Fandria tilted her head. "Bolder?"
Gandalf nodded and smiled widely this time, his eyes twinkling like distant stars.
"Mmm-hmm, I will start with one particular hobbit I know quite well. From what I remember, he used to be quite the adventurous lad and I expect he will not have changed much at all..."
Author's Note: Uh, yeah... Well, I don't know what else to say other than 'yeah'. If there is any names, creatures, places, people, legends or things that you do not recognize in this story, they are most likely my personal creation, like Fandria. I like adding to lore if I can and I hope it doesn't offend any of you hardcore Tolkien fans. I'm a HUGE fan too, so just remember that. Also, if I ever get anything confused or wrong, please forgive me. I haven't waded in this fandom for a number of years and have some catching up to do. To make sure I stay on track with Middle Earth knowledge I've started reading 'The Hobbit' over again and watching the trilogy excessively. Okay, um, yeah, that's all I have to say. Reviews are always nice to have! *wink, wink*